THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

James  J.  McBride 

PRESENTED  BY 

Margaret  McBride 


HISTORY 


NINETY-FIFTH  REGIMENT 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS, 


FROM  ITS  ORGANIZATION    IN    THE    FALL    OF   1862,    UNTIL  ITS  FINAL 
DISCHARGE  FROM  THE  UNITED   STATES  SERVICE,    IN    1865. 


BY  WALES  W.  WOOD,  ESQ., 

(Former  Adjutant  of  Regiment.) 


CHICAGO : 

TEIBUNE  COMPANY'S  BOOK  AND  JOB  FEINTING  OFFICE. 
1865. 


T 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  In  the  year  1865,  by 

WALES  W.  WOOD, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the 
Northern  District  of  Illinois. 


J.    L.    BATOHELDER,    BINDER, 
MeCormiok'i  Block,  8.  E.  cor.  Randolph  &  Dearborn. 


E 

SO5.5 


wash 


TO    THE 


COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  ENLISTED  MEN 


NINETY-FIFTH  REGIMENT 


ILLINOIS   INFANTEY   VOLUNTEERS, 


I'his  volume  is  respectfully  dedicated,     by 


THE     AUTHOR. 


Q 


PEEFAOE. 


DURING  the  past  summer,  while  the  16th  Army 
Corps  lay  in  camp  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  the 
author  commenced  writing  a  historical  report  of  the 
Ninety-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  from  its  organization, 
with  the  view  merely  of  having  the  same  entered 
upon  the  regimental  books,  and  become  a  part  of  the 
regimental  records,  for  future  reference  and  information. 

The  commissioned  officers  and  enlisted  men  having 
urgently  requested  its  publication,  that  each  member 
of  the  command  and  others  interested  might  be  sup- 
plied with  a  copy,  it  has  been  deemed  advisable  to 
issue  the  history  in  the  form  of  the  present  volume. 

In  submitting  the  work  to  the  public,  the  author  is 
aware  that  it  contains  nothing  of  particular  interest  to 
any,  except  the  survivors  of  the  regiment,  the  friends 
of  its  deceased  members,  and  the  people  of  the  coun- 


yi  PREFACE. 

ties  in  which  it  was  raised ;  and  it  is  more  especially 
for  their  benefit  that  the  present  publication  appears. 

It  is  believed,  however,  that  works  of  this  nature 
will  prove  of  great  assistance  to  the  general  historian, 
in  writing  up  his  record  of  the  Rebellion.  If  each 
regiment  present  its  history  from  the  beginning,  pre- 
pared accurately  by  one  of  its  own  members,  the  gen- 
eral writer  may  then  be  able  to  cull  therefrom  much 
of  the  material  necessary  to  a  complete  and  reliable 
history  of  the  late  war  against  the  Union. 

The  author  is  indebted  to  Lieut  Amos  J.  Boyington, 
of  Company  "A,"  Corporal  Robert  Horan  and  Private 
Samuel  Pepper,  of  Company  "  G,"  for  the  use  of  their 
diaries  kept  on  the  Red  River,  Guntown  and  Arkansas 
expeditions,  and  also  to  other  officers  and  enlisted 
men  of  the  regiment,  for  valuable  information  from 
time  to  time  imparted. 

CHICAGO,  ILL.,  Nov.  15,  1865. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Organization  of  Regiment  at  Camp  Fuller  —  Drills  and  Parades  — 
Discipline  —  Military  abatement  of  a  Whisky  Shop  —  Orders  to 
proceed  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  countermanded — Incidents  on  return 
of  Regiment  to  Camp  Fuller — Regiment  afterward  ordered  to 
Columbus,  Ky 13 — 25 

CHAPTER    II. 

Journey  of  the  Regiment  to  Cairo,  111.,  and  Columbus,  Ky. —  Re- 
port to  General  Davis,  at  Columbus  —  The  Iron  Cable  —  The  trip 
to  Jackson,  Tenn.  —  Camp  Life  at  Jackson — How  a  Ninety-fifth 
Man  supposed  himself  captured  by  a  Rebei  Cavalryman,  and  how 
he  was  mistaken  —  Ordered  to  Grand  Junction,  Tenn.  —  Report 
to  Brig.  General  Hamilton  —  Assigned  to  General  McArthur's 
Division,  13th  Army  Corps  —  Incidents  of  Camp  Life  at  Grand 
Junction  —  Preparations  for  a  forward  movement 26 — 38 

CHAPTER    III. 

The  Movement  from  Grand  Junction  —  A  tedious  Day's  March  — 
Fatigue  of  the  Men  —  Iron  Accessions  to  Knapsacks  —  Crossing 
the  Tallahatchie  —  Halt  at  Abbeville  —  Advance  to  Tockena  — 
News  of  Van  Dorn's  Raid  into  Holly  Springs  —  Return  of  the 
Army  —  Expedition  to  Salem,  Miss.  —  Anecdote  of  a  Jug  — 
March  of  the  Regiment  to  Memphis 39 — 62 


viii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    IV. 

Expedition  from  Memphis  down  the  River  against  Vicksburg — 
Arrival  at.Milliken's  Bend  —  The  Canal  near  Young's  Point  — 
Colonel  Deitzler's  Brigade  ordered  to  Lake  Providence  —  Impor- 
tant order  affecting  the  Ninety-fifth  —  The  Canal  at  Lake  Provi- 
dence—  Sickness  and  Death  in  the  Regiment  —  Raising  of  Col- 
ored Regiments  —  Policy  of  the  Government  concerning  Slavery 
during  the  Rebellion,  reviewed — Resignation  of  Colonel  Church 

—  March  of  the   Army  from   Milliken's  Bend  to  "  Hard  Times" 
Landing  —  Ninety-fifth  transferred  to  General  Ransom's  Brigade 

—  Crossing  to    Grand    Gulf — March   to  rear  of  Vicksburg  — 
Charges  of  19th  and  22nd  of  May  —  The  Siege  —  Surrender  of  the 
City  —  General  Ransom' s  Brigade  sent  to  Natchez  —  Its  operati  ons 
while  there — Its  return  to  Vicksburg 53 — 91 

CHAPTER    V. 

Expeditions  from  Vicksburg  in  Spring  of  1864  —  Sherman's  March 
to  Meridian  —  Colonel  Coates'  defense  of  Yazoo  City  —  The  Red 
River  Expedition  —  Taking  of  Fort  DeRussey —  Ninety-fifth  de- 
tailed to  destroy  the  works  —  Arrival  at  Alexandria  —  March  to 
Grand  Ecore  —  Ascending  the  River  on  Transports  —  Battle  of 
Pleasant  Hill  —  Retreat  ordered  by  General  Banks  —  Return  of 
the  Fleet  —  Running  Batteries  at  Vandares  —  Ninety-fifth  as  Rear 
Guard  of  Banks'  Army  —  Two  Days'  Fight  at  Clouterville  —  Re- 
treat to  Alexandria  —  Battle  of  Yellow  Bayou  —  Evacuation  of 
the  Red  River  Country  —  Return  of  the  Ninety-fifth  to  Vicks- 
t>urg 92 — 108 

CHAPTER    VI. 

Arrival  of  the  Regiment  at  Memphis  —  Assigned  to  General  Sturgia' 
Expedition  — March  from  Memphis  —  Battle  of  Guntown,  Miss. 

—  Colonel  Humphrey  killed  —  Captain  Stewart  takes  command, 
and  is  severely  wounded  —  Death  of  Captain  Bush  —  Command 
taken  by  Captain  Schellenger  —  The  Regiment  fight  with  despe- 
ration—Ammunition giving  out  — Absence  of  Commanding  Offi- 


CONTENTS.  IX 

cers  —  Ninety- fifth  fall  back,  after  a  long  conflict  against  superior 
odds  —  Form  second  line  of  battle  —  Final   Retreat  on  Memphis 

—  Hardships  —  Arrival  of  the  Regiment  back  to  Memphis  in  de- 
plorable condition  —  Comments  on  the  Ghmtown  affair.  .109 — 116 

CHAPTER    VII. 

The  Regiment  relieved  from  duty  for  a  time  after  the  Guntown 
Battle,  and  allowed  to  recruit  —  The  Command  soon  regains  a 
prosperous  condition,  and  prepares  for  the  Arkansas  Expedition, 
under  General  Mower  —  Arrival  at  St.  Charles,  Ark.  — Company 
1 '  K  "  detached  and  left  at  the  mouth  of  White  River  as  Garrison 

—  Regiment  ascends  White  River  to  Duvall's  Bluff,  and  goes  by 
Railroad  to  Brownsville  —  The  lengthy  March  through  Arkansas 
to  Missouri  in   search   of  Price  —  Arrival  at  Camp  Girardeau  — 
"  Colonel  Pap,"  and  why  he  was  so  named  —  Regiment  embarks 
for  St.  Louis,  and  goes   to   Jefferson  City  —  Ordered  forward  to 
Sedalia  —  Assigned   to  Garrison  Duty  —  Remain  there   until  the 
Campaign  against  Price  closes  —  General  A.  J.  Smith's   troops 
sent  to  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis Ill — 124 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

Operations  of  Hood  in  Tennessee  —  His  Advance  on  Nashville  — 
Battles  at  Columbia,  Spring  Hill,  and  Franklin  —  General  Smith's 
Command  ordered  to  Ree'nforce  General  Thomas  at  Nashville  — 
Leaves  St.  Louis  on  Transports,  and  proceeds  to  Cairo  —  Voyage 
up  the  Ohio  and  Cumberland  Rivers  —  Safe  arrival  at  Nashville 

—  Detachments  of  the  Ninety-fifth  rejoin  the  Regiment  —  Account 
of  the  Georgia  Detachment  during  General  Sherman's  Campaign 

—  Active  preparations  made  around  Nashville  to  receive  Hood  — 
His  Army  in  sight — 'The  Ninety-fifth  holds  an  important  Position 
in  the  Defenses  of  the  City  —  Work  on  the  Fortifications  —  Thomas 
moves  his  Army  out  to  attack  Hood  —  Great  Battles  of  December 
15th  and  16th,  1864  —  Hood's  Army  defeated  and  driven  back  in 
confusion  —  Part  taken  by  the  Ninety-fifth  —  The   Pursuit  to  the 
Tennessee  River —  General  Smith's  Troops  ascend  the  river  and  go 
into  Winter  Quarters,   at  Eastport,  Miss.  —  Expedition  to  Corinth 


X  CONTENTS. 

— The  Hard- tack  Famine  atEastport  —  Corn  issued  to  the  Troops 
—  The  Boys  desire  to  draw  Halters — Arrival  of  Rations  — 
Preparations  for  another  active  Campaign  —  Transports  arriv* 
to  convey  the  Troops  to  New  Orleans 125 — 156 

CHAPTER    IX. 

The  Ninety- fifth  embarks  on  the  ' '  Adam  Jacobs ' '  for  New  Orleans 
— Fleet  proceeds  down  the  Tennessee  River  —  Arrival  at  Cairo  — 
Depredations  committed  thereby  the  Troops — Voyage  down  the 
Mississippi  —  General  Smith' s  forces  disembark  at  Vicksburg  — 
Afterward  proceed  to  New  Orleans  —  Disagreeable  Camp  below 
the  City  on  the  old  Battle-fields  —  Regiment  goes  to  Dauphine 
Island  by  way  of  Lake  Pontchartrain  —  Arrival  at  the  Island  — 
Expedition  of  Colonel  Moore's  Brigade  to  Cedar  Point,  and  up 
the  west  side  of  the  Bay  toward  Mobile  —  Oysters  and  Musqui- 
toes  at  Cedar  Point  —  Advance  up  the  Country  —  How  the  Music 
was  used  to  deceive  the  Enemy  —  The  44th  Missouri  Band  —  Re- 
turn of  the  Brigade  to  Cedar  Point  —  Crosses  the  Bay,  and  rejoins 
16th  Army  Corps  at  Dauley's  Landing,  on  Fish  River —  General 
Canby's  Army  advances  on  Spanish  Fort  and  Blakely  —  Invest- 
ment of  both  Places  —  The  part  performed  by  the  Ninety- fifth  in 
the  Reduction  of  Spanish  Fort  —  Both  Strongholds  taken  by 
Assault  —  Fall  of  Mobile 157—176 

CHAPTER    X. 

The  16th  Army  Corps  ordered  to  Montgomery,  Alabama  —  Rumors 
received  before  leaving  Blakely,  of  General  Grant' s  victories  in 
the  East  —  The  suspicion  with  which  the  Ninety-fifth  received 
flying  reports,  since  they  were  deceived  at  ' '  Big  Sandy' '  —  Gen- 
eral Grant's  success  confirmed  —  Enthusiasm  with  which  the 
Intelligence  was  received  by  the  Regiments  —  The  Ninety-fifth 
cheer  lustily  —  The  March  through  the  Pine  Forests  —  Guide- 
boards  —  A  Rattlesnake  Affair  —  Arrival  at  Greenville  —  The 
Ninety-fifth  garrison  the  Town  —  Feelings  of  the  Inhabitants  — 
A  Paper  published  by  the  Soldiers  —  March  continued  to  Mont- 
gomery—  Arrival  there  —  General  Wilson's  Raid  through  this 


CONTENTS.  XI 

Section  —  Tooops  camp  around  the  City  —  Eebel  paroled  Soldiers 
from  the  Eastern  Armies  pass  through  —  Beauregard,  Bragg, 
Pillow,  Semmes  —  Dick  Taylor  and  Kirby  Smith  surrender  —  The 
Rebellion  at  an  end  —  Drills  resumed  by  the  Ninety-fifth  —  What 
General  A.  J.  Smith  thought  of  their  Dress  Parade  —  Anecdote 
of  the  "  Pointer  Dog,"  and  how  Colonel  Blanden  came  by  it  — 
Order  from  the  War  Department  to  Muster  out  Troops  —  The  Men 
anxious  to  get  Home  —  The  16th  Corps  retained  for  Garrison  Duty 
in  Northern  Alabama 177 — 193 

CHAPTER    XI. 

A  portion  of  the  16th  Army  Corps  sent  to  North-eastern  Alabama 

—  Col.  Moore's  Brigade  garrison  Tuskegee,   Opelika,  and  Union 
Springs  —  The  Ninety-fifth   occupy   Opelika  —  Feelings    of  the 
Citizens  —  Stringent  Whisky  Orders  enforced  by  Col.  Blanden — 
Management  of  the  Negro  Question  —  Paroled  Rebel  Soldiers  — 
The  Fourth  of  July,  and  how  the  Soldiers  Celebrated  it  at  Ope- 
lika—  Officers  and  Men  anxious  to  be  Mustered  Out  —  The  Regi- 
ment relieved,  and  returns  to  Montgomery  to  be  sent  home  — 
Proceeds  to   Vicksburg    via   Selma,    Meridian,   and   Jackson  — 
Arrival  at  Vicksburg  —  Takes  Steamer  up  the  River  to  St.  Louis 

—  Goes  thence  to  Springfield,  111. ,  for  final  Payment  and  Discharge 

—  Mustered  out  of  the  Service  at  ' '  Camp  Butler ' '  —  Return 
home  to   McHenry  and  Boone  Counties  —  The  Receptions  there 
given  the  various  Companies  —  Conclusion 194 — 210 

APPENDIX. 

Roster  of  Commissioned  Officers  and  Non-commissioned  Staff, 
shoeing  Muster  in,  Resignations,  Deaths  and  Promotions  during 
Service 211 

List  showing  Commissioned  Officers  and  Enlisted  Men  mustered  out 
with  Regiment,  Transferred,  Discharged,  Died  and  Deserted.  .216 

List  of  Commissioned  Officers  and  Enlisted  Men  wounded  while  in 
Service 232 

List  of  Commissioned  Officers  and  Enlisted  Men  killed  in  Action. .  237 

List  of  Campaigns  and  Battles  in  which  the  Regiment  took  part.  .239 


xii  CONTENTS. 

Tabular  Statement,  showing  number  of  Commissioned  Officers  and 
Enlisted  Men  Mustered  out,  Transferred,  Discharged,  Died,  De- 
serted, and  aggregate  Number  belonging  to  the  Regiment  during 
Service. .  240 


HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Organization  of  Regiment  at  Camp  Fuller  —  Drills  and  Parades  — 
Discipline  —  Military  abatement  of  a  Whisky  Shop  —  Orders  to 
proceed  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  countermanded — Incidents  on  return 
of  Regiment  to  Camp  Fuller  —  Regiment  afterward  ordered  to 

Columbus,  Ky. 

UNDER  the  call  for  six  hundred  thousand  more  vol- 
unteers, made  by  President  Lincoln  in  the  summer  of 
1862,  to  aid  in  putting  down  the  rebellion,  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Ninety-fifth  Eegiment  Illinois  In- 
fantry Volunteers  was  formed,  and  composed  of  seven 
companies  from  McHenry  county,  and  three  com- 
panies from  Boone. 

Enlistments  in  these  companies  commenced  briskly 
in  both  counties,  in  the  latter  part  of  July  of  that 
year,  and  the  volunteering  progressed  with  such  en- 
thusiasm and  rapidity,  that  on  the  first  of  August 
following  several  of  the  companies  had  obtained  the 
3 


14  HISTOEY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

minimum  number  of  recruits  required  by  law,  and  by 
the  fifteenth  of  the  same  month  all  were  filled  to  near 
the  maximum  standard,  and  were  ready  to  be  assigned 
to  regiments,  or  to  be  consolidated  into  one  regimental 
organization.  The  officers  and  men  of  the  companies 
thus  raised,  coming  as  they  did  from  neighboring 
counties,  early  expressed  a  desire  to  go  into  the  United 
States  service  as  a  regiment,  and  to  effect  such  object 
a  convention  was  held  at  Marengo,  Illinois,  on  the  16th 
day  of  August,  1862,  when  the  future  field,  staff  and 
line  officers  of  the  command  for  the  first  time  assem- 
bled, became  acquainted  with  each  other,  and  decided 
upon  the  military  organization.  At  this  meeting  the 
Hon.  Daniel  Whitney,  a  citizen  and  pioneer  of  Boone 
county,  was  called  to^the  chair,  who  stated  the  objects 
of  the  convention,  and  addressed  the  officers  who  were 
about  going  forth  to  the  defense  of  the  country,  elo- 
quently and  with  patriotism.  The  main  business 
before  the  meeting  was  the  selection  of  field  officers 
for  the  new  regiment,  and  Hon.  Lawrence  S.  Church, 
of  Woodstock,  McHenry  county,  was  unanimously 
chosen  as  its  Colonel;  Thomas  W.  Humphrey,  of 
DeKalb  county,  Lieutenant  Colonel ;  and  Leander 
Blanden,  of  Harvard,  McHenry  county,  as  Major. 
The  proceedings  of  the  convention  were  conducted  in 
the  best  spirit  and  harmony,  and  it  adjourned  with  the 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  15 

satisfaction  of  having  given  shape  and  consolidation 
to  the  ten  companies  anxiously  awaiting  its  action. 

Soon  afterward,  Governor  Yates  accepted  the  regi- 
ment, designated  its  number,  and  directed  the  compa- 
nies to  rendezvous  at  "  Camp  Fuller,"  Eockford,  Illi- 
nois, for  the  purpose  of  completing  the  regimental 
organization  and  muster  into  the  United  States  service. 
Accordingly,  on  the  third  day  of  September,  1862,  the 
different  companies  arrived  at  the  rendezvous  indi- 
cated, taking  quarters  in  barracks  erected  by  Govern- 
ment for  the  new  troops.  On  the  fourth  day  of  the 
same  month  the  regiment  was  .mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States  by  Lieut.  J.  W.  Tibbatts,  of 
the  regular  army,  and  at  that  time  the  Eoster  of  Com- 
missioned Officers  thus  mustered  was  as  follows : 

FIELD  AND   STAFF. 

COLONEL LAWRENCE  S.  CHURCH.  , 

LIEUT.  COLONEL THOMAS  W.  HUMPHREY. 

MAJOR LEANDER  BLANDEN. 

ADJUTANT WALES  W.  WOOD. 

SURGEON . GEORGE  N.  WOODWARD. 

ASST.  SURGEON WALTER  F.  SUITER. 

41  "      A.  D.  MERRITT. 

QUARTERMASTER HENRY  D.  BATES. 

CHAPLAIN THOS.  R.  SATTERFIELD. 

COMPANY  "A." 

CAPTAIN. WILLIAM  AYERY. 

1ST  LIEUTENANT ALEXANDER  S.  STEWART. 

2*D  LIEUTENANT.  . .  ..JAMES  E.  SPONABLE. 


16  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

COMPANY  "B." 

CAPTAIN CHARLES  B.  LOOP. 

1ST  LIEUTENANT MILTON  E.  KEELER. 

2ND  LIEUTENANT AARON  F.  RANDALL. 

COMPANY  "  C." 

CAPTAIN JASON  B.  MANZER. 

IST  LIEUTENANT WM.  W.  WEDGEWOOD. 

2ND  LIEUTENANT OTIS  H.  SMITH. 

COMPANY  "D." 

CAPTAIN EDWARD  J.  COOK. 

IST  LIEUTENANT JOHN  E.  BECKLEY. 

2ND  LIEUTENANT WM.  H.  HUFFMAN. 

COMPANY  "E." 

CAPTAIN JOHN  EDDY. 

1ST  LIEUTENANT ASA  FARNUM. 

2ND  LIEUTENANT OSCAR  E.  DOWE. 

COMPANY  "F." 

CAPTAIN WM.  H.  STEWART, 

V1ST  LIEUTENANT SABINE  VAN  CUREN. 

2ND  LIEUTENANT PHINEAS  H.  KERR. 

COMPANY  "G." 

CAPTAIN ELLIOTT  N.  BUSH. 

1ST  LIEUTENANT HENRY  M.  BUSH. 

2ND  LIEUTENANT   JOSEPH  M.  COLLYER. 

COMPANY  "H." 

CAPTAIN CHARLES  H.  TRYON. 

IST  LIEUTENANT JAMES  H.  WETMORE. 

2ND  LIEUTENANT  . .  .  .WM.  B.  WALKER. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  17 

COMPANY  "I." 

CAPTAIN JAMES  NISH. 

1ST  LIEUTENANT GARDNER  S.   SOUTHWORTE. 

2ND  LIEUTENANT CONVERSE  PIERCE. 

COMPANY  "K." 

CAPTAIN GABRIEL  E.  CORNWELL. 

IST  LIEUTENANT ALMON  SCHELLENGER. 

2ND  LIEUTENANT ALONZO  BROOKS. 

On  the  same  day,  September  4th,  1862,  the  Colonel 
commanding  the  regiment,  by  Regimental  Order  No. 
one,  made  appointments  of  non-commissioned  officers 
for  the  several  companies,  and  on  the  9th,  the  non- 
commissioned staff  was  ordered  as  follows : 

SERGEANT  MAJOR BENNETT  T.  W AKEMAN. 

QUARTERMASTER  SERGEANT WM.  H.  EARLET. 

COMMISSARY  SERGEANT JOHN  B.  HURLBUT. 

HOSPITAL  STEWARD WILBUR  P.  BUCK. 

DRUM  MAJOR JUSTUS  M.  SHEFFIELD. 

FIFE  MAJOR THEODORE  INGHAM. 

Soon  after  the  muster  in  and  completion  of  the  regi- 
mental organization,  the  regiment  began  inquiring 
studiously  into  the  "Revised  Army  Regulations" 
and  "Tactics,"  and  preparing  for  the  real  and  active 
service  before  them  in  the  field.  It  was  known  that 
the  regiment  would  remain  at  Camp  Fuller  a  few 
weeks  before  leaving  the  State,  and  meanwhile  the 
commissioned  officers  and  enlisted  men,  heretofore  un- 


18  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

accustomed  to  the  conditions  of  military  life,  had  a 
good  opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  some 
of  its  mysteries  and  requirements,  of  studying  into  the 
theoretical  part  of  war,  and  of  informing  themselves 
generally  in  reference  to  the  duties  appertaining  to 
their  respective  offices.  Squad  drills,  company  and 
battalion  drills,  dress  parades,,  and  commissioned  and 
non-commissioned  officers'  schools  at  night,  were  at 
once  instituted,  and  the  whole  camp,  from  morning 
till  evening,  now  became  busy  with  the  hum  and  tramp 
of  military  preparation.  . 

During  the  same  fall,  three  other  regiments — the 
Seventy-fourth,  Ninety-second,  and  Ninety-sixth  Illi- 
nois Infantry — raised  in  Northern  Illinois,  were  in  ren- 
dezvous camp  at  Rockford  at  the  same  time  with  the 
Ninety -fifth,  and  among  them  all  arose  a  friendly  inter- 
course of  brothers  in  arms.  A  spirit  of  rivalry  sprang 
up,  commendable  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the 
different  organizations,  and  beneficial  to  the  service 
they  were  about  entering  upon. 

After  the  departure  of  the  Seventy-fourth  Illinois 
for  the  field,  Colonel  Church,  being  senior  in  rank, 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Post,  and  while  admin- 
istering in  this  capacity,  won  the  praise  of  all,  and 
gave  entire  satisfaction  to  the  other  regiments,  as  well 
as  his  own.  Most  of  the  time,  however,  during  the 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  19 

encampment  at  Camp  Fuller,  Colonel  Church's  health 
was  very  feeble.  The  sick  bed  seemed  a  much  more 
appropriate  place  for  him  than  the  camp,  yet  his  ar- 
dent patriotism,  and  an  overruling  desire  to  be  with 
his  men  all  the  time,  determined  him  to  remain  with 
them,  though  already  prostrated  with  sickness.  The 
duties  of  commanding  and  disciplining  the  regiment 
therefore  devolved  much  of  the  time  upon  Lieut.  Col. 
Humphrey,  who  exerted  himself  energetically  and 
constantly  to  promote  the  welfare  and  efficiency  of  the 
command,  and  give  it  as  thorough  preparation  as  pos- 
sible for  the  field.  Under  his  rigid  but  beneficial  dis- 
cipline, and  assisted  by  instructions  from  Lieut.  Sellers, 
of  the  36th  Illinois  Infantry,  who  was  employed  as 
drill-master,  the  regiment  made  rapid  progress,  and  in 
a  few  weeks  could  perform  dress-parade,  guard-mount- 
ing, and  the  various  maneuvres  and  evolutions  pre- 
scribed in  the  Tactics,  with  much  credit  and  a  good  de- 
gree of  proficiency,  as  was  judged  by  those  who  had 
seen  active  military  service. 

The  regiment  at  this  encampment  was  within  a  few 
hours  ride  of  home,  and  day  after  day,  during  their 
stay  there,  the  friends  and  acquaintances  of  the  soldiers 
came  flocking  in  from  all  parts  of  Boone  and  McHenry 
counties,  attracted  thither  by  the  great  interest  taken 
in  the  welfare  of  the  regiment,  and  bringing  with  them 


20  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

large  and  benevolent  supplies  of  eatables  and  luxuries 
palatable  to  the  taste,  and  conducive  to  the  comfort 
and  contentment  of  the  "  boys  in  blue."  To  such  an 
extent  was  the  generosity  of  the  good  and  loyal  peo- 
ple of  those  counties  carried  in  this  respect,  that  pro- 
visions of  all  kinds  —  not  known  in  the  commissary 
department  of  the  army  —  appeared  in  great  abun- 
dance and  superfluity  upon  the  mess  tables  of  com- 
missioned officers  and  private  soldiers  alike.  Amid 
such  liberal  niceties  of  the  season  the  ordinary  rations 
of  "hardtack," — coffee,  sugar,  meat,  and-so-forth, — 
provided  for  the  soldier  by  the  Government,  were 
somewhat  at  discount,  and  his  appetite  did  not  crave 
while  these  profuse  gifts  were  continually  pouring  in 
from  the  hands  of  a  generous  and  warm-hearted  pub- 
lic. It  might  be  thought,  as  a  sanitary  consideration, 
that  the  light  and  sweetened  food  thus  freely  furnished 
to  the  inmates  of  the  camp  would  not  fit  them  prop- 
erly for  the  hard  knocks  of  military  life,  and  since 
sooner  or  later  they  were  to  come  to  it,  that  hard- 
cracker  without  butter,  coffee  without  milk,  potatoes 
desiccated,  and  pork  and  beans,  were  the  substantiate 
on  which  soldiers  should  be  prepared  for  the  field. 
The  boys  of  the  Ninety-fifth,  however,  did  not  thus 
consider  the  matter,  and  during  their  sojourn  at  Camp 
Fuller,  the  varieties  of  eatables  sent  in  to  overflowing 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  21 

failed  not  to  find  in  them  thankful  and  happy  recipi- 
ents and  greedy  consumers. 

Notwithstanding  the  excitement  consequent  upon 
the  arrival  in  camp,  daily,  of  such  multitudes  of  visit- 
ors, the  drills,  parades  and  disciplining  of  the  regi- 
ment progressed  in  a  favorable  and  highly  satisfactory 
manner. 

The  orders,  while  here,  were  quite  strict,  not  allow- 
ing officers  or  enlisted  men  to  visit  their  homes,  ex- 
cept in  few  instances,  and  then  only  on  proper  author- 
ity. Some  of  the  men,  not  then  fully  comprehending 
the  necessity  of  that  severe  discipline  which  thus  early 
in  the  service  bound  them  down  to  strict  regulations, 
and  desirous  of  enjoying  home  associations  as  much 
as  possible  before  taking  final  leave  for  the  war,  carried 
into  effect  their  mischievous  inclinations,  and,  unbe- 
known to  the  Colonel  commanding,  took  the  benefit 
of  what  is  termed  in  the  army  "  French  furlough." 
Such  did  not  stand  upon  the  order  of  their  going,  but 
went  without  orders.  Only  a  few  cases  of  this  kind 
occurred,  however,  and  the  general  conduct  of  the 
command  while  at  Eockford  was  good  and  soldierly 
throughout 

While  in  camp  at  this  point,  a  certain  Irishman 
located  and  opened  an  establishment,  in  close  proxim- 
ity to  the  regimental  camp,  for  the  purpose  of  retailing 


22  HISTORY   OP  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

intoxicating  beverages  to  soldiers.  This  matter  was 
brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Lt.  Colonel  commanding 
rather  strikingly  one  day,  as  certain  parties  were 
observed  to  be  returning  from  that  locality,  not  walk- 
ing in  the  strictest  line  possible,  nor  seemingly  over 
ground  of  the  most  level  character.  Other  indications 
were  manifested  in  their  bearing  going  plainly  to  show 
that  these  few  men  of  the  Ninety-fifth  had  imbibed 
somewhat  in  excess  of  moderation  at  the  Irishman's 
shop,  and  that  they  were  not  living  strictly  up  to  the 
temperance  pledge,  if  indeed  they  ever  took  it.  Colo- 
nel Humphrey  therefore  notified  the  proprietor  of  the 
alcoholic  establishment  that  his  trade  in  spirituous 
liquors  so  near  to  the  camp  was  having  a  deleterious 
effect  upon  the  command,  producing  conduct  prejudi- 
cial to  good  order  and  military  discipline,  and  warned 
him  to  move  his  whisky  concern  from  that  vicinity 
immediately. 

The  proprietor  thereof,  however,  supposing  the 
United  States  of  America  to  be  a  free  country,  where 
every  one  could  do  as  he  pleased,  and  not  being 
accustomed  to  the  practical  promulgation  and  enforce- 
ment of  military  orders,  could  not  see  the  matter  in 
the  same  light  in  which  the  Lt  Colonel  viewed  it,  and 
concluded  to  keep  open  his  doors  and  continue  the 
practice  of  dealing  out  strong  drinks  to  whoever 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  23 

thirsted  in  that  locality,  without  reference  to  the  mili- 
tary commander  and  in  disregard  of  his  opinions  or 
orders  on  the  subject.  Colonel  Humphrey  now  deter- 
mined that  the  nuisance  should  be  at  once  abated  by 
military  force,  and  that  the  evil  which  could  not  be 
suppressed  by  persuasion  should  be  eradicated  and 
banished  by  means  of  coercion.  He  accordingly 
ordered  a  detachment  of  his  command,  in  charge  of  a 
commissioned  officer,  to  proceed  to  the  liquor  shop, 
arrest  the  proprietor,  seize  the  whisky,  load  the  same 
into  a  wagon  provided  for  the  purpose,  and  report  to. 
regimental  head-quarters  without  delay.  The  party 
detailed,  promptly  obeyed  and  literally  carried  into 
effect  the  order  for  arrest  and  confiscation.  The  whisky 
dealer  was  brought  in,  surrounded  with  bristling  bayo- 
nets, and  the  vinous  contents  of  the  alcoholic  institution 
were  soon  safely  deposited  at  regimental  hedal-quarters, 
and  stowed  away  for  safe  keeping,  to  await  further  action 
and  orders.  The  result  of  the  whole  matter  was,  that 
the  keeper  of  the  shop,  being  released,  went  to  the  city 
of  Eockford  and  made  complaint  to  the  civil  authorities 
of  his  grievances.  A  certain  judge  afterward  came  to 
regimental  head-quarters  and  arranged  with  the  com- 
manding officer  as  follows :  that  the  owner  of  the 
property  confiscated  be  allowed  to  resume  possession 
thereof,  but  that  he  remove  both  himself  and  his 


24  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

rummery  away  from  the  vicinity  of  that  encampment 
forthwith. 

On  the  29th  day  of  September,  1862,  orders  were 
received  from  Governor  Yates  for  the  regiment  to  leave 
the  State  immediately,  after  receiving  pay  and  bounty,- 
proceed  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  report  for  duty 
to  Major  General  H.  G.  Wright,  commanding  the  De- 
partment of  the  Ohio.  The  camp  was  astir  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  day  set  for  departing  from  Camp  Ful- 
ler, and  the  soldiers,  little  supposing  that  they  were  to 
return  thither  so  soon  as  they  afterward  did,  made 
bonfires  of  almost  everything  combustible  about  camp 
in  the  shape  of  old  barrels,  boxes,  mess-tables  and 
benches.  The  barracks  were  left  standing,  but  certain 
compartments  of  those  even  had  been  rendered  so 
unpleasant,  that,  to  say  the  least,  their  condition  would 
not  be  of  an  inviting  character  to  returning  occupants, 
and  would  require  some  police  duty  before  their  use 
could  be  again  tolerated.  At  an  early  hour  of  the 
same  day,  the  regiment  took  up  its  line  of  march 
through  the  city  of  Eockford  to  the  railroad  depot, 
and  rilled  the  cars  provided  for  conveying  the  com- 
mand to  Chicago.  Scarcely,  however,  was  the  embar- 
kation finished  when  Colonel  Church  received  a  tele- 
gram from  Governor  Yates  which  rescinded  the  former 
order  of  march,  and  directed  him  to  return  to  Camp 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  25 

Fuller  with  his  command  and  remain  there  until  fur- 
ther orders.  In  compliance,  the  regiment  marched 
back  to  the  old  camp  —  all  tired  and  disappointed  in 
not  getting  off  for  the  war. 

And  now  the  men  began  to  wish  they  possessed  the 
benches  and  mess-tables,  and  various  articles  of  mili- 
tary household  furniture,  which  a  short  time  previous 
they  had  consigned  to  the  flames,  under  supposition 
that  such  conveniences  would  never  be  again  needed. 
Certain  ones  well  remembered,  too,  in  what  plight  their 
quarters  at  the  barracks  had  been  left,  and  the  mis- 
chievous circumstance  which  had  furnished  the  boys 
with  much  fun  and  merriment  at  the  outset,  was  now, 
in  a  practical  application  to  themselves,  not  so  much 
of  a  laughing  matter  after  all. 

The  regiment  now  resumed  drilling,  and  employed 
the  time  usefully  until  October  30th,  when  new  orders 
were  received  from  Adjutant  General  Fuller,  at  Spring- 
field, to  move  the  command  immediately  to  Columbus, 
Kentucky,  and  report  for  duty  to  Major  General  U.  S. 
Grant,  commanding  the  Department  and  Army  of 
the  Tennessee. 


26  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 


CHAPTER      II. 

Journey  of  the  Regiment  to  Cairo,  HI.,  and  Columbus,  Ky. —  Re- 
port to  General  Davis,  at  Columbus  —  The  Iron  Cable  —  The  trip 
to  Jackson,  Tenn.  —  Camp  Life  at  Jackson — How  a  Ninety-fifth 
Man  supposed  himself  captured  by  a  Rebel  Cavalryman,  and  how 
he  was  mistaken  —  Ordered  to  Grand  Junction,  Tenn.  —  Report 
to  Brig.  General  Hamilton — Assigned  to  General  Me  Arthur's 
Division,  13th  Army  Corps  —  Incidents  of  Camp  Life  at  Grand 
Junction  —  Preparations  for  a  forward  movement. 

ON  the  fourth  day  of  November,  1862,  in  accordance 
with  orders  from  head-quarters  of  the  State,  the 
regiment  took  the  cars  at  Rockford,  passing  over  the 
North- Western  road  to  Chicago,  and  proceeded  thence 
to  Cairo,  HI.,  by  the  Illinois  Central.  At  the  time  of 
leaving  "  Camp  Fuller  "  for  the  seat  of  war,  it  num- 
bered as  follows : 

Commissioned  Officers 39 

Enlisted  Men 944 

Aggregate 983 

most  o£  whom  accompanied  the  regiment,  and  only 
a  very  few  sick  soldiers  were  left  behind.     The  com- 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  27 

mand  arrived  at  Cairo  on  the  morning  of  November  6th, 
after  a  long  and  tedious  ride  over  the  Illinois  Central 
Eailroad,  and  immediately  embarked  on  the  steamer 
"  Dacotah  "  for  Columbus,  Ky. ;  landed  at  that  place  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  and  reported  for  orders 
to  Brigadier  General  Davis,  commanding  the  district. 
He  instructed  the  Colonel  to  keep  his  regiment  on  the 
boat  until  evening,  when  railroad  transportation  would 
be  furnished  to  Jackson,  Tenn.  It  was  here  that  Col- 
onel L.  S.  Church,  who,  though  in  feeble  health,  had 
attended  the  regiment  hither,  having  been  wearied  and 
broken  down  still  more  by  the  long  journey,  was 
obliged  to  leave  the  command  and  return  to  his  home. 
He  did  this  with  much  reluctance  on  his  part,  and  to 
the  deep  regret  of  the  entire  regiment,  but  under  the 
most  urgent  advice  and  solicitation  of  medical  officers. 
All  saw  that  his  health  was  rapidly  failing,  that  his 
speedy  return  North  was  necessary  for  his  recovery ; 
and  it  was  with  many  a  sorrowful  feeling  that  his 
officers  and  men  bade  him  farewell,  still  hoping,  how- 
ever, that,  with  health  restored,  he  would  come  again 
to  command  them  and  take  part  in  those  busy  mili- 
tary scenes  upon  which  the  regiment  was  now  entering. 
At  Columbus  the  curiosity  of  all  was  excited  at  the 
sight  of  the  bluffy  stronghold  which  a  few  months 
previous  had  been  in  rebel  possession,  and  which  for 


28  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

some  time  served  as  a  formidable  barrier  to  Federal 
navigation  of  the  Mississippi  river.  The  important 
military  movements  from  Cairo  and  other  points  in  the 
spring  of  '62  had  necessitated  its  evacuation.  While 
occupying  the  place,  the  rebels  had  sunk  a  huge  iron 
chain  or  cable  in  the  river  above  the  town,  fastened  to 
either  shore,  to  prevent  the  downward  passage  of  Union 
boats,  and  a  portion  of  it  could  still  be  seen  hanging 
in  broken  condition  over  the  bluffs,  showing  exactly 
the  location  of  the  obstruction  in  the  times  of  its  use- 
fulness to  the  Confederacy.  At  the  wharf  another 
piece  of  this  chain,  which  had  been  fished  out  of  the 
river,  was  lying  coiled  up,  and  attracted  crowds  of 
the  men,  who  were  curious  to  examine  the  monster 
cable  about  which  so  much  had  been  said  and  written. 
The  desire  to  collect  relics  of  the  war  already  mani- 
fested itself,  and  one  soldier  expressed  an  ardent  wish 
to  secure  a  portion  of  the  chain  and  preserve  the  same 
as  a  curiosity.  It  was  wisely  concluded,  however,  that 
the  men  had  quite  enough  traps  on  hand  already, 
'quite  enough  baggage  and  sufficiently  full  knapsacks 
without  being  encumbered  by  such  ponderous  mate- 
rial as  superfluous  iron. 

Toward  evening  of  the  same  day,  November  6th, 
orders  came  for  the  regiment  to  debark  from  the  steamer 
and  proceed  by  railroad  to  Jackson,  Tennessee,  report- 


ILLINOIS    INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  29 

ing  there  to  Major  General  S.  A.  Hurlbut,  command- 
ing that  district.  The  cars  provided  for  the  trip  were 
filled  to  overflowing,  the  loading  was  finished  during 
the  evening,  and  at  a  late  hour  the  train  moved  out 
for  its  destination.  Freight  cars  were  employed  on 
this  road  for  transporting  troops,  and  it  was  the  first 
time  in  the  lives  of  the  passengers  that  they  had  had 
the  pleasure  of  an  excursion  in  that  particular  kind 
of  vehicles.  Yet  there  was  no  murmuring  on  this 
account  among  the  soldiers,  for  they  were  traveling 
upon  a  military  railroad,  from  which  rebels  had  run 
off  or  destroyed  a  great  share  of  the  rolling  stock,  and 
they  cheerfully  accepted  such  regulations  and  accom- 
modations as  the  circumstances  of  war  afforded.  The 
regiment  arrived  safely  at  Jackson  at  about  one  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  November  7th,  and  was  immedi- 
ately reported  to  Major  General  Hurlbut  as  ordered. 
He  directed  Lt  Col.  Humphrey  to  keep  his  command 
upon  or  near  the  cars  until  morning,  when  a  camp 
would  be  assigned.  Meanwhile  the  Colonel  caused 
guards  to  be  thrown  out  around  the  regiment,  lest  some 
depredations  might  be  committed  in  the  town  for  which 
he  would  be  censured  and  held  responsible. 
1  In  the  morning  General  Hurlbut  visited  the  regi- 
ment, and  jokingly  inquired  of  the  Colonel  what  regi- 
ment of  prisoners  he  was  guarding  ?  At  an  early  hour 
4 


30  HISTORY   OF   THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

the  regiment  moved  into  the  camp  designated,  near 
the  city,  and  thereafter  reported  to  Colonel  M.  K. 
Lawler,  then  commanding  the  Post  of  Jackson.  The 
time  at  this  station  was  spent  by  the  regiment  in  drill- 
ing, performing  post  and  picket  duty  and  learning 
certain  things  concerning  military  life  not  inculcated 
in  the  schooling  at  Camp  Fuller.  Severe  orders  were 
received  here  from  superior  head-quarters,  prohibiting 
soldiers  from  committing  depredations  of  any  kind, 
entering  the  yards  and  premises  of  citizens,  and  being 
absent  from  the  encampment  without  proper  authority. 
One  day  a  member  of  the  Ninety-fifth,  unmindful  of 
the  strict  regulations  in  force,  happened  to  wander 
rome  distance  from  camp,  for  the  purpose  of  procur- 
ing certain  articles  of  nourishment  not  usually  issued 
by  the  army  commissaries  —  articles  which  did  not 
really  belong  to  him,  but  which  he  thought  might  be 
collected  without  injury  to  any  loyal  individual,  and 
with  gratification  to  his  own  appetite  and  that  of  his 
companions  in  carnp.  While  out  on  this  expedition 
he  suddenly  found  himself  surprised  by  an  individual 
claiming  to  be  one  of  "  Jackson's  Confederate  cavalry," 
and  who  at  once  demanded  the  immediate  and  uncon- 
ditional surrender  of  the  astonished  Union  soldier. 
Seeing  himself  overpowered  he  complyingly  delivered 
himself  up.  The  captor,  however,  informed  the  pris- 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  81 

oner  that  if  he  would  reveal  his  name,  company  and 
regiment,  and  give  information  as  to  the  number  and 
disposition  of  the  Federal  forces  then  encamped  at 
Jackson,  also  the  name  of  the  commanding  general, 
he  could  be  released  and  allowed  to  return  to  camp. 
Little  suspecting  the  real  military  character  of  the 
captor,  and  not  having  enlisted  in  the  service  for  the 
purpose  of  conveying  important  intelligence  or  render- 
ing aid  and  comfort  to  the  enemy,  the  steadfast  devotee 
of  Uncle  Samuel  gave  a  most  cunning  and  glowing 
account  of  the  number  and  disposition  of  the  Union 
army  at  Jackson,  which  information  was  characterized 
more  for  intended  exaggeration  than  entire  truthfulness. 
It  turned  out  that  the  supposed  Confederate  cavalryman 
was  none  other  than  a  disguised  Federal,  whom  the 
commanding  general  had  sent  out  for  the  purpose  of 
looking  after  stragglers,  and  soon  afterward  an  order 
was  received  at  regimental  head-quarters  from  Major 
General  Hurlbut,  directing  that  "  the  soldier  of  the 
Ninety-fifth  who  strayed  away  from  camp  on  Sunday, 
and  met,  as  he  says,  one  of  Jackson's  Confederate 
cavalry,  be  kept  on  bread  and  water  three  (3)  days, 
and  perform  three  (3)  days  hard  labor,  for  the  offense 
of  leaving  camp  lines  without  proper  permission  or 
orders:"  which  punishment  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  regiment  caused  to  be  carried  into  effect 


82  HISTORY    OF   THE    NINETY-FIFTH 

The  command  was  to  remain  in  camp  at  Jackson  only 
a  few  days,  when  it  would  be  hurried  forward  to  the 
front,  where  preparations  were  already  going  on  in  the 
army  under  General  Grant  for  an  active  campaign  in 
the  field.  The  regiment  had  as  yet  experienced  little 
of  the  fatigues  and  onerous  duties  incident  to  war ; 
had  made  no  marches  of  any  length  loaded  down  with 
knapsacks,  blankets,  haversacks,  guns  and  accoutre- 
ments, and  as  it  was  soon  to  be  called  upon  to  perform 
such  tasks,  the  commanding  officer  thought  best  to 
practice  in  that  kind  of  drill  preparatory  to  leaving 
Jackson.  Accordingly,  one  day  the  regiment  was 
ordered  out  for  a  march,  fully  armed  and  accoutred, 
which,  in  the  army,  is  well  understood  to  include  all 
the  military  appendages  and  implements  carried  by  a 
soldier.  The  direction  taken  was  on  one  of  the  main 
roads  leading  from  the  city,  and  the  day  chosen  was 
of  the  sultriest  kind,  though  in  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber. The  men,  with  their  well-filled,  heavy  knapsacks 
strapped  upon  their  backs,  moved  along  the  route  for 
a  short  distance  with  ease  and  without  a  murmur,  but 
as  the  advance  continued,  the  burdens  upon  their  per- 
sons grew  weightier  and  weightier,  and  they  now  began 
to  fully  realize  the  irksomeness  produced  by  being 
obliged  to  carry  knapsacks  several  hours  and  miles  in 
succession.  The  commanding  officer  continued  the 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  33 

march,  a  few  miles  into  the  country,  and  having  pro- 
ceeded a  distance  sufficiently  satisfactory  to  all  con- 
cerned, countermarched  to  camp,  the  regiment  being 
greatly  fatigued,  and  the  men  not  being  very  favora- 
bly disposed  to  a  repetition  of  "  Colonel  Tom's  knap- 
sack drill." 

On  the  twenty -first  day  of  November,  1862,  the 
regiment  proceeded  by  railroad  to  Grand  Junction, 
Tennessee,  in  accordance  with  orders  from  General 
Hurlbut,  with  instructions  to  report  to  Brigadier  Gene- 
ral Hamilton,  then  commanding  the  left  wing  13th 
Army  Corps,  Army  and  Department  of  the  Tennessee. 
On  arriving  there,  it  was  immediately  assigned  to 
Brigadier  General  John  McArthur's  Division  of  this 
corps,  and  was  conducted  into  camp  by  one  of  his 
staff  officers,  who  met  the  regiment  at  the  depot  for 
that  purpose.  The  Ninety-fifth  was  the  first  new  regi- 
ment under  the  President's  last  call  for  troops  to  enter 
this  division  of  the  old  array,  and  was  now  called  upon 
to  associate,  drill,  march,  fight  and  compete  with  those 
veteran  regiments,  which,  entering  the  service  at  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  had  fought  nobly  and  won  lau- 
rels in  the  hotly  contested  battles  of  Belmont,  Wilson's 
Creek,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  luka  and 
Hatchie.  The  division  of  General  McArthur  at  this 
time  was  composed  of  some  of  the  oldest  and  best 


34  HISTORY    OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

troops  sent  to  the  field  from  the  States  of  Illinois, 
Wisconsin,  Iowa,  and  Kansas.  The  Eleventh,  Twelfth 
and  Seventeenth  Illinois,  the  Fourteenth,  Sixteenth  and 
Seventeenth  Wisconsin,  the  Eleventh,  Thirteenth,  Fif- 
teenth and  Sixteenth  Iowa,  and  the  First  Kansas  regi- 
ments belonged  to  it,  and  had  already  made  their  mark 
in  the  war  against  secession  and  rebellion.  Their 
ranks  had  been  thinned  by  the  casualties  of  battle  and 
the  service,  and  their  regimental  organizations  had 
thereby  become  reduced  far  below  the  minimum 
standard. 

The  advent  of  a  new,  full  regiment  among  them 
was  therefore  a  matter  of  curiosity  with  these  battle- 
scarred  and  war-experienced  veterans.  They  were 
anxious  to  see  how  the  raw  recruits,  just  down  from 
the  North,  would  conduct  themselves  in  camp  life  ; 
anxious  to  scrutinize  their  movements  on  dress- 
parade  and  drill,  supposing  the  regiment  had  as  yet 
obtained  little  knowledge  of  such  matters.  On 
the  evening  of  Nov.  21st,  as  the  Ninety-fifth  passed 
from  the  cars  at  Grand  Junction,  and  wended  their 
way  through  the  various  encampments  to  its  own,  the 
old  soldiers  gathered  along  its  route  to  witness  the  big 
regiment.  So  long  had  it  been  since  they  had  seen  a 
full  one,  that  many  of  them  wanted  to  know  what 
brigade  was  passing  ?  Late  in  the  evening  the  regi- 


ILLINOIS    INFANTRY    VOLUNTEERS.  35 

ment  reached  its  camping-grounds,  and  was  welcomed 
by  the  excellent  brass  band  of  Colonel  Deitzler's  Brig- 
ade, who  cheered  up  the  boys  with  patriotic  music. 
On  the  following  day,  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
1st  Brigade  of  General  McArthur's  Division,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  George  W.  Deitzler  of  the  1st 
Kansas  Infantry  —  afterward  Brigadier  General  of 
Volunteers.  Thus  was  completed  its  incorporation 
into  the  grand  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  then  preparing 
for  a  general  forward  movement,  under  the  direction 
of  Major  General  Grant,  against  the  enemy  in  North- 
ern Mississippi. 

Attached  now  to  one  of  the  best  fighting  divisions 
in  the  army,  the  task  before  it  was  to  establish  and 
build  up  a  good  military  character,  of  which  the  di- 
vision might  be  proud,  and  which  would  make  the 
organization  an  ornament  and  honor  to  the  service 
and  country.  Soon  after  getting  settled  in  this  camp, 
the  regiment  resumed  its  dress-parades,  and  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  new  command  in  such  an  act  attracted 
a  crowd  of  military  observers  and  critics,  who  were 
curious  to  know  how  these  inexperienced  troops  would 
perform.  The  general  commanding  the  division  was 
also  present,  and  desired  to  learn  of  what  material  the 
regiment  consisted.  He  and  all  others  in  attendance 
were  highly  satisfied  and  astonished  to  see  with  what 


36  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

precision  and  uniformity  the  new  levies  executed  the 
different  movements.  A  few  days  afterward  the  whole 
division  was  ordered  out  on  drill,  where  a  dozen  regi- 
ments, several  batteries  of  artillery  and  a  battalion 
of  cavalry  were  tomaneuvre  together  at  the  commands 
of  the  general.  On  this  occasion  the  Ninety-fifth,  for 
the  first  time  in  its  military  existence,  took  part  in  an 
exercise  of  this  character,  and  acquitted  itself  with 
credit,  obtaining  particular  praise  from  the  general 
commanding.  During  this  same  drill,  the.  regiments 
were  all  sweeping  up  over  the  wide  field  and  passing 
the  general  in  line  of  battle.  As  the  Ninety -fifth  ap- 
proached with  steady  step  and  unbroken  line,  he 
glanced  along  the  well-guided  ranks  with  admiration  } 
and  remarked  that  the  Ninety-fifth  need  n't  be  called  a 
new  regiment  any  longer,  it  was  old  enough  for  the 
service.  Thus  at  the  outset  the  regiment  won  golden 
opinions  from  old  officers  and  soldiers.  The  drilling 
and  constant  preparation  for  such  scenes  while  in 
camp  at  Kockford  and  Jackson,  now  produced  the 
good  results  of  such  training,  and  the  organization, 
in  its  efficient  and  well:disciplined  condition,  was  con- 
sidered a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  brigade  and 
division. 

The  regiment,  at  the  time  of  leaving  the  State,  was 
unprovided  with  tents  of  any  kind,  and  after  arriving 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  87 

at  Jackson  was  unable  to  procure  any  except  the  small 
shelter,  or  as  the  soldiers  were  wont  to  call  them,  "  dog 
or  pup  tents."  These  were  deemed  a  great  nuisance, 
as  they  had  to  be  pitched  close  upon  the  ground,  and 
none  but  the  very  shortest  men  could  sleep  beneath 
them  unexposed  to  the  weather.  On  reaching  Grand 
Junction  it  was  observed  that  other  regiments  were 
well  supplied,  and  made  comfortable  with  the  large 
wall-tents,  and  Colonel  Humphrey,  always  solicitous 
for  the  welfare  of  his  men,  determined  that  this  matter 
should  be  remedied  in  his  own  command,  if  possible. 
He  accordingly  invited  General  McArthur  to  visit  his 
camp  one  day,  for  the  purpose  of  witnessing  the  prac- 
tical workings  of  the  shelter-tent  Preparatory  to  the 
general's  inspection,  the  colonel,  employing  a  little 
strategy,  caused  one  of  the  tents  to  be  pitched  in  front 
of  his  head-quarters,  and  arranged  with  a  man  over 
six  feet  high,  the  tallest  soldier  in  the  regiment,  that 
he  should  be  lying  in  it,  stretched  to  his  fullest  length, 
at  the  general's  approach.  It  was  utterly  impossible 
for  a  man  of  such  proportions  as  the  soldier  selected, 
to  occupy  the  tent  without  constantly  having  the  head 
and  feet  exposed.  The  general,  on  witnessing  this 
ludicrous  scene,  expressed  his  displeasure  at  such  con- 
tracted provision  for  the  men  of  his  command,  and 
assured  the  colonel  that  larger  accommodations  should 
5 


38  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

be  at  once  provided.  Soon  afterward,  the  condemned 
shelter-tents  were  all  turned  over,  and  the  regiment 
supplied  with  the  same  kind  as  the  other  troops. 

The  stay  at  Camp  No.  Three,  Grand  Junction,  was 
short,  and  soon  General  Grant  ordered  forward  the 
whole  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  then  collected  at  this 
point,  at  LaGrange,  and  near  Memphis,  against  the 
enemy,  reported  to  be  in  force  near  the  Tallahatchie 
river,  in  the  State  of  Mississippi.  It  was  expected 
the  rebels  would  offer  battle,  and  contest  the  passage 
at  that  point 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  39 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Movement  from  Grand  Junction  —  A  tedious  Day's  March  — 
Fatigue  of  the  Men  —  Iron  Accessions  to  Knapsacks  —  Crossing 
the  Tallahatchie  —  Halt  at  Abbeville  —  Advance  to  Yockena  — 
News  of  Van  Dora's  Raid  into  Holly  Springs  —  Return  of  the 
Army — Expedition  to  Salem,  Miss.  —  Anecdote  of  a  Jug  — 
March  of  the  Regiment  to  Memphis. 

AT  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  November 
26th,  1862,  the  camps  were  aroused  at  Grand 
Junction  by  the  familiar  reveille,  tents  struck,  knap- 
sacks packed,  coffee  and  hard-cracker  partaken  of,  and 
everything  made  ready  for  a  seasonable  departura 
Following  the  practice  instituted  at  Camp  Fuller,  the 
Ninety -fifth  made  bonfires  of  boxes,  barrels,  mess 
tables  and  other  camp  furniture  for  which  there  was 
no  transportation,  and  which  were  of  no  further  mili- 
tary importance.  There  were  no  barracks  at  this 
point  for  the  troops,  and  no  occasion  was,  therefore, 
offered  for  the  happening  of  mischievousness  similar 
to  that  which  has  already  been  related  in  connection 
with  the  return  of  the  regiment  to  camp  from  the 


40  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

dSpot  at  Kockford,  Illinois.  The  custom  of  disposing 
by  fire  of  all  articles  and  rubbish  of  old  camps  pre- 
vails universally  in  the  army,  and  whatever  the  soldier 
has  used  in  camp  for  his  own  comfort,  if  it  cannot  be 
transported  at  the  time  of  moving,  must  suffer  uncere- 
monious consignment  to  the  devouring  flames,  or  be 
otherwise  destroyed.  In  other  words,  nothing  useful 
to  a  human  being  in  rebeldom  must  at  such  times  be 
left  behind  to  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands  for  his  aid 
and  comfort  The  route  taken  by  this  portion  of  Gen- 
eral Grant's  army  was  through  the  northern  part  of  the 
State  of  Mississippi,  moving  on  the  road  leading  to 
Holly  Springs,  Abbeville  and  Oxford.  After  the 
decisive  battles  of  Shiloh  and  the  seige  of  Corinth, 
the  Confederates  had  retreated  to  their  new  line  of 
operations  and  thrown  up  strong  fortifications  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Tallahatchie  river,  a  short  distance 
north  of  Abbevilla  The  main  traveled  road  and  the 
Mississippi  Central  Eailroad  crossed  the  river  at  this 
point,  and  here  General  Pemberton  was  stationed  in 
force,  to  resist  the  passage  of  the  large  Federal  army 
which  was  now  sweeping  forward,  with  the  rebel 
stronghold  on  the  Tallahatchie  as  the  objective  point 
The  first  day's  march  out  from  Grand  Junction  was 
long  and  tedious,  continuing  far  into  the  night  before 
bivouacking.  The  distance  traveled  must  have  been 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  41 

full  twenty-five  miles.  Some  of  the  men,  overcome 
with  fatigue  and  troubled  with  sore  feet,  were  obliged 
to  fall  out  of  the  ranks  and  come  up  afterward  as  best 
they  could.  This  was  the  first  real  march  the  regi- 
ment had  ever  undertaken,  and  it  was  not  expected 
that  they  would  perform  it  with  the  same  endurance 
as  those  who  were  enured  to  such  duty  by  long  ser- 
vice in  the  field.  Yet  a  small  number  only  was  found 
absent  from  roll-call  after  arriving  in  camp  that  night, 
though  all  were  tired,  sorefooted  and  hungry,  and  well 
prepared  for  relishing  the  contents  of  their  haversacks 
and  for  the  enjoyment  of  sleep. 

The  men,  before  starting  from  camp  that  morning, 
had  filled  their  knapsacks  to  their  fullest  capacity, 
putting  in  articles  and  material  more  weighty  than  old 
soldiers  would  have  deemed  advisable  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. For  a  few  miles  these  burdens  seemed 
light,  the  march  progressed  lively,  and  the  boys  were 
cheerful  and  talkative,  even  to  witticism.  Now  and 
then  along  the  road  horse-shoes  were  discovered  which 
had  been  relieved  from  further  duty  on  the  hoof,  and 
a  few  of  the  men,  disliking  to  pass  by  and  abandon 
such  articles,  undertook  to  transport  a  number  of  them, 
thinking  they  would  be  productive  of  good  luck,  and 
be  useful,  perhaps,  to  some  one  in  the  future.  The 
knapsacks,  increased  in  weight  by  such  metallic  acces- 


42  HISTORY   OP  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

sions,  grew  heavier  and  more  irksome,  until  finally  the 
horse-shoes  were  willingly  cast  away,  and  the  question 
began  to  be  seriously  agitated  whether  the  regulation 
bulk  of  the  knapsack  itself  should  not  be  overhauled, 
lightened  and  materially  decreased,  retaining  little 
else  therein  except  what  was  actually  needful  on  the 
march. 

On  the  following  day  the  march  was  resumed,  and 
the  column  moved  on  through  Holly  Springs  and 
seven  miles  beyond,  to  near  Lumpkin's  Mills,  where 
the  whole  army  halted  for  the  night  There  were  now 
indications  that  we  were  nearing  the  enemy,  as  there 
had  been  lively  skirmishing  by  our  cavalry  in  front, 
and  the  occasional  booming  of  artillery  suggested  that 
active  work  might  be  at  hand.  We  were  only  a  -few 
miles  from  the  Tallahatchie,  where  the  main  force 
of  the  enemy  was  supposed  to  be,  and  the  Federal 
column  rested  in  camp,  November  28th,  with  orders 
to  regimental  commanders  to  keep  their  men  well  in 
hand,  while  the  First  Kansas  and  the  Eleventh  Illi- 
nois, of  Colonel  Deitzler's  brigade,  made  a  reconnoi- 
sance  in  the  direction  of  the  crossing  at  the  river,  felt 
of  the  enemy  and  ascertained  his  position,  preparatory 
to  a  general  engagement  On  the  29th,  information 
was  received  that  the  enemy  was  evacuating  his  forti- 
fications at  the  Tallahatchie,  and  General  Grant  ordered 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  43 

his  army  forward  immediately.  General  McArthur's 
was  the  advance  division,  and  Colonel  Deitzler's  the 
advance  brigade.  The  column  moved  in  the  after- 
noon of  that  day,  and  the  advance  arrived  at  the 
recently  evacuated  fort  on  the  north  side  of  the  river 
after  dark,  the  Ninety-fifth  being  the  second  regiment 
of  infantry  to  occupy  it  The  bridge  at  this  point 
had  been  burned  by  the  retreating  rebels,  and  only 
the  Eleventh  Illinois  Infantry,  and  companies  "  A " 
and  "  F,"  of  the  Ninety-fifth,  succeeded  in  crossing  on 
the  remaining  stringers.  The  cavalry  had  already 
forded  the  stream  and  passed  on  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy.  The  bridge  had  to  be  repaired  before  the 
artillery  and  army  wagons  could  pass  over,  and  the 
army  was  delayed  here  for  that  purpose  until  the  fol- 
lowing day.  That  night,  therefore,  the  Ninety-fifth 
bivouacked  around  the  fort,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river,  except  the  two  companies  mentioned,  which 
crossed  the  river  and  occupied  the  works  there. 
Officers  and  men  lay  down  to  sleep  behind  the  large 
trees  which  had  been  felled  by  the  Confederates  to 
give  their  artillery  range,  and  during  the  night  heavy 
details  from  the  regiment  were  busy  at  work  on  the 
bridge.  The  work  was  continued  all  night  long,  and 
early  on  the  following  day  (30th,)  it  was  in  readiness 
for  the  army  to  cross. 


44  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

It  was  here  ascertained  from  deserters  and  prisoners 
that  Pembertou  had  evacuated  only  a  few  hours  pre- 
vious to  the  arrival  of  the  Federal  advance,  taking 
with  him  a  force  of  twenty  or  twenty -five  thousand 
men.  The  smoking  cinders  of  the  bridge  and  the 
appearance  of  the  fortifications  indicated  that  he  had 
not  been  long  absent. 

The  rebel  position  here  was  well  selected  and  strong- 
ly fortified  naturally  and  artificially.  Had  the  .enemy 
accepted  an  engagement  there,  the  slaughter  of  an 
attacking  column  must  necessarily  have  been  terrible, 
as  its  course  would  have  been  through  swamps  to 
an  opening  near  the  river  bank,  upon  which  the 
enemy  could  have  concentrated  a  most  deadly  fire. 

But  there  were  other  important  movements  progress- 
ing at  the  same  time  on  the  enemy's  left  flank,  under 
direction  of  the  quick-moving  Sherman,  which  un- 
doubtedly decided  the  evacuation  by  the  rebels  of 
their  defenses  on  the  Tallahatchie.  This  flank  move- 
ment was  being  executed  by  General  Sherman  simul- 
taneously with  the  arrival  of  General  McArthur's 
division  at  the  bridge.  He  threw  his  command  across 
the  river  at  a  fordable  point  some  miles  below  the  fort, 
and  was  in  condition  to  move  around  and  attack  the 
enemy's  position  from  the  rear.  Pemberton  discovered 
the  trap  being  set  to  "  gobble "  his  entire  force,  and 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  45 

before  the  strategical  movement  could  be  consum- 
mated, withdrew  his  army  and  retreated  hastily  in  the 
direction  of  and  beyond  Grenada. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  the  Federal  forces,  de- 
layed by  the  repairing  of  the  bridge  over  the  Talla- 
hatchie,  moved  forward,  the  Ninety -fifth  being  in 
advance  of  all  the  infantry.  The  regiment  arrived  at 
Abbeville,  four  miles  distant,  at  noon,  drenched  in  a 
terrible  rain  storm.  Here  most  of  the  command  took 
shelter  in  the  deserted  houses  and  sheds  which  that 
secession  village  afforded.  The  rebel  army  having 
retreated  precipitately  beyond  Grenada,  and  in  the 
direction  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  pursued  closely  by  our 
cavalry,  gave  no  further  signs  of  standing  and  offer- 
ing battle  to  the  advancing  Union  columns.  The 
chase  on  the  part  of  our  infantry  was,  therefore,  slack- 
ened at  Abbeville,  and  the  Ninety-fifth  went  into 
camp  two  miles  south-east  of  the  town.  The  regi- 
ment here  furnished  large  details  of  men  to  repair  the 
Mississippi  Central  Railroad  bridge  over  the  Talla- 
hatchie,  which  was  partially  destroyed  by  the  rebels 
in  their  hasty  evacuation  and  flight.  In  a  few  days 
the  new  work  was  completed,  and  trains  came  through 
regularly  from  Holly  Springs.  The  regiment  remained 
in  camp  at  Abbeville  until  the  18th  day  of  December, 
1862,  performing  various  kinds  of  post  duty. 


46  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

The  men  had  now  seen  something  of  active  service 
in  the  field,  and  learned  from  experience  some  of  the 
ways  and  customs  of  the  army.  At  the  time  of  starting 
out  from  Grand  Junction,  they  were  looked  upon  by 
older  soldiers  as  raw,  inexperienced  recruits,  though  it 
was  confessed  they  had  exhibited  on  drill  and  parade 
a  good  degree  of  military  discipline  and  knowledge. 
In  camp  they  had  shown  themselves  superb  soldiers, 
as  universally  admitted,  and  it  remained  to  see  how 
the  new  organization  would  conduct  itself,  and  hold 
out  in  the  trying  time  of  a  long  and  rapid  march. 
The  regiment  had  therefore  entered  upon  the  present 
campaign,  with  the  idea  prominent  among  some  of  the 
old  troops  that  they  only  were  completely  adequate  for 
the  lengthy  march  before  them,  and  the  regiment,  on 
the  other  hand,  entertained  the  belief  that  it  could 
march  as  fast  and  as  far  in  a  day  as  any  other  regi- 
ment, old  or  new.  The  veteran  soldiers,  during  this 
campaign,  took  occasion  to  confer  upon  the  new  levies 
the  appellation  of  "forty-dollar  men,"  suggestive  of 
the  forty-dollar  bounty  which  each  recruit  had  received 
from  his  county,  in  consideration  of  his  enlistment. 
But  after  a  few  days'  marching,  in  which  it  was  noticed 
that  the  Ninety -fifth  always  kept  well  closed  up  in  the 
column,  and  came  into  camp  at  night  with  but  few 
stragglers  behind,  the  men  of  the  old  regiments  were 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  47 

compelled  to  alter  their  opinions  materially,  and  the 
clamor  about  "  forty-dollar  men"  finally  subsided. 

After  remaining  at  Abbeville  a  number  of  days, 
the  army  moved  on  through  Oxford,  and  the  Ninety- 
fifth  arrived  at  Yockena  Station  on  the  18th  of  De- 
cember, 1862.  Here  news  came  that  the  rebel  General 
Van  Dorn  had  made  a  dash  with  his  cavalry  into 
Holly  Springs,  surprised  and  mostly  captured  the 
Federal  garrison,  and  destroyed  large  quantities  of 
quartermaster  and  commissary  stores  belonging  to  the 
Federal  Government.  Holly  Springs  was  then  a 
depot  of  supplies  for  General  Grant's  army,  and  was 
therefore  an  important  point  in  his  line  of  communi- 
cation. This  bold  and  unexpected  dash  of  Van  Dorn 
had  much  to  do  with  changing  the  character  and  des- 
tination of  the  campaign.  It  may  be  inferred  that  the 
sudden  appearance  of  Van  Dorn  was  unexpected. 
General  Grant,  however,  was  fully  advised  of  that 
rebel  leader's  whereabouts, — knew  that  he  was  hov- 
ering around  Holly  Springs,  awaiting  a  favorable  op- 
portunity to  attack  the  place,  and,  to  prevent  the  oc- 
currence of  this  threatening  disaster,  in  due  time  tele- 
graphed this  information  to  the  commandant  of  that 
Post,  warning  him  to  be  on  his  guard,  and  keep  sharp 
lookout  for  Van  Dorn.  The  Post  commander  failed 
to  provide  for  the  emergency,  and  one  morning. at  an 


48  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

early  hour  found  himself  and  the  most  of  his  garrison 
in  the  hands  of  the  cunning  Confederate  Chief  As 
soon  as  this  intelligence  reached  the  main  Federal 
army,  near  Yockena,  it  was  immediately  ordered  to 
return  to  Holly  Springs.  The  countermarch  from 
Yockena  commenced  December  19th,  and  the  same 
day  the  Ninety-  fifth  marched  back  to  its  former 
camp,  near  Abbeville.  On  the  20th  the  march  was 
resumed  at  an  early  hour,  and  the  regiment  arrived  in 
Holly  Springs  at  ten  o'clock,  p.  M.,  of  that  day,  having 
made  one  of  the  longest  and  most  tedious  forced 
marches  which  it  ever  experienced  in  the  service. 

The  army  halted  at  this  place  for  several  days,  and 
on  the  day  following  our  arrival,  Colonel  Deitzler's 
Brigade,  composed  of  the  First  Kansas,  Sixteenth 
Wisconsin,  and  Ninety-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  a 
battery,  was  ordered  on  an  expedition  to  Salem,  Miss., 
fifteen  miles  east  of  Holly  Springs,  for  the  purpose  of 
intei'cepting  Van  Dorn,  who  was  still  reported  in  that 
vicinity.  The  regiments  took  three  days'  rations, 
started  early  and  arrived  at  Salem  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  same  day.  The  command  halted  here  one  day, 
awaiting  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  Colonel 
Deitzler,  after  advancing  a  few  miles  beyond  Salem, 
learning  that  Yan  Dorn  had  passed  south  a  short 
time  previous  to  our  coming,  and  was  now  well  out  of 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  49 

reach,  and  pursuit  of  cavalry  by  infantry  being  useless, 
moved  his  brigade  back  to  Salem,  and  returned 
with  it  to  Holly  Springs  on  the  23rd  of  December. 
There  were  very  severe  orders  on  this  short  expedition, 
in  reference  to  the  soldiers  entering  dwelling-houses 
and  yards  by  the  roadside,  forbidding  the  taking  of 
chickens  and  vegetables,  and  against  jay-hawking 
generally.  Nevertheless,  the  boys  could  not  see  the 
propriety  of  passing  through  an  enemy's  country 
without,  in  a  measure,  collecting  supplies,  and  as  they 
had  been  provided  with  short  rations  for  the  trip,  the 
orders  were  somewhat  evaded,  and  many  a  soldier 
marched  into  Salem  with  a  fowl  of  some  description 
slung  over  his  shoulder. 

The  First  Kansas  Infantry  was  one  of  the  best 
fighting  regiments  in  the  service,  and  had  acquired 
something  of  a  reputation  also  for  appropriating  things 
to  their  own  use,  in  which,  really,  they  could  not  be  said 
to  have  had  a  clear  and  unencumbered  ownership.  It 
may  be  asserted  with  safety  that  when  there  was  any- 
thing good  to  eat  which  could  be  seized  near  the  route 
of  march,  the  First  Kansas  was  in  no  fear  of  star- 
vation. On  this  expedition,  as  usual,  it  did  not  suffer 
for  want  of  fowl  and  other  meat,  and  the  Ninety-fifth, 
though  not  so  bold  because  not  so  experienced  in  this 
peculiar  branch  of  the  service  as  their  compeers  of 


50  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

the  First  Kansas,  yet  were  making  rapid  progress  in 
learning  the  skillful  modus  operandi  of  bringing  eata- 
bles into  camp,  and  were  well  provided  with  the  various 
luxuries  afforded  by  the  country.  At  Salem,  corn- 
meal,  sugar  and  syrup  were  found  in  considerable 
abundance,  and,  notwithstanding  the  prohibitory  or- 
ders on  the  subject,  those  soldiers  of  jay-hawking  pro- 
pensities (of  which  there  are  some  in  every  regiment,) 
laid  in  a  good  store  of  these  necessities. 

One  day  two  men  belonging  to  the  Ninety-fifth, 
were  noticed  by  the  brigade  commander  to  be  ap- 
proaching camp,  conveying  a  large  jug  suspended  on 
a  pole,  which  gave  rise  to  the  suspicion  that  the  con- 
tents thereof  was  contraband — such  as  milk,  honey,  or 
syrup,  and  had  been  surreptitiously  obtained,  against 
the  orders  in  such  case  provided.  The  suspicious 
parties  were  therefore  at  once  arrested  and  brought 
under  guard  to  Colonel  Deitzler's  head-quarters  for 
examination  and  punishment.  On  arriving  there  the 
colonel  ascertained  with  surprise,  but  to  the  great  merri- 
ment of  the  parties  implicated,  and  other  soldiers  who 
stood  around,  that  the  earthen  vessel  in  question  con- 
tained nothing  but  pure,  unadulterated  water,  which 
the  soldiers  had  obtained  at  a  neighboring  spring. 
The  colonel  acknowledged  himself  sold,  and  the  boys 
proceeded  on  their  way  to  camp,  rejoicing. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTBY   VOLUNTEERS.  51 

A  few  days  after  the  return  of  this  expedition  to 
Holly  Springs,  General  Grant's  army  took  up  its  line 
of  march  for  Memphis,  starting  soon  after  Christmas, 
1862.  The  Ninety-fifth  arrived  at  Moscow,  Tenn., — a 
small  town  between  LaGrange  and  Memphis, — De- 
cember 30th,  and  on  the  following  day  mustered  for 
pay  at  that  place.  On  the  first  day  of  January,  1863, 
it  resumed  the  march,  and  on  the  2nd,  arrived  at  Col- 
lierville.  Colonel  Deitzler's  brigade  was  ordered  to 
halt  here  a  few  days  prior  to  advancing  to  Memphis, 
during  which  time  the  regiments  were  mainly  occu- 
pied in  repairing  and  guarding  the  railroad,  doing 
picket  and  other  duties.  While  remaining  at  this 
place,  the  regiments  were  required  to  be  up  and  in  line 
of  battle  at  three  o'clock,  A.  M.,  for  several  mornings  in 
succession,  watching  for  the  enemy  until  daylight. 
This  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent  surprise  by  the 
enemy,  who  was  known  to  be  hovering  on  the  rear 
and  flanks  of  the  withdrawing  Union  army.  The 
disaster  which  had  occurred  at  Holly  Springs  made 
all  commanders  more  watchful  thereafter,  and  the 
troops  were  kept  on  the  alert,  and  well  in  hand,  day 
and  night,  for  any  emergency.  On  the  13th  of  Janu- 
ary the  brigade  moved  forward  toward  Memphis,  ar- 
rived there  in  the  afternoon,  and  went  into  camp 
three  miles  out  from  the  city. 


52  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

The  campaign  thus  closed  in  Northern  Mississippi, 
though  successful  in  driving  the  enemy  from  his  base 
on  the  Tallahatchie  river,  yet  had  not  effected  all  the 
objects  originally  planned.  Pemberton  with  his  army 
had  been  compelled  to  evacuate  his  strong  position, 
and  beat  a  hasty  retreat  far  into  the  interior,  but  he 
was  still  unconquered.  Whether  the  grand  march 
from  Grand  Junction  and  LaGrange,  southward,  was 
instituted  with  a  view  of  eventually  attacking  and 
taking  Vicksburg  from  the  rear,  via  Grenada  and 
Jackson,  Mississippi,  and  was  discontinued  on  account 
of  impracticability,  or  for  other  reasons,  was  best  un- 
derstood by  the  great  military  man  who  then  stood  at 
the  head  of  the  Western  Army,  planned  its  campaigns, 
and  altered  at  discretion  its  sweeping  course  of  march. 
It  was  soon  evident,  however,  that  there  was  a  grand 
expedition  on  foot  for  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
that  the  campaign  was  to  be  continued,  and  that  it 
would  be  prosecuted  with  renewed  vigor  down  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  against  Vicksburg,  though  in 
midwinter. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY    VOLUNTEERS.  53 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

Expedition  from  Memphis  down  the  River  against  Vicksburg  — 
Arrival  at  Milliken's  Bend  —  The  Canal  near  Young's  Point  — 
Colonel  Deitzler'g  Brigade  ordered  to  Lake  Providence  —  Impor- 
tant order  affecting  the  Ninety-fifth  —  The  Canal  at  Lake  Provi- 
dence —  Sickness  and  Death  in  the  Regiment  —  Raising  of  Col- 
ored Regiments  —  Policy  of  the  Government  concerning  Slavery 
during  the  Rebellion,  reviewed — Resignation  of  Colonel  Church 

—  March  of  the   Army  from   Milliken's  Bend  to  "  Hard  Times" 
Landing  —  Ninety-fifth  transferred  to  General  Ransom's  Brigade 

—  Crossing  to    Grand    Gulf — March   to  rear  of  Vicksbnrg  — 
Charges  of  19th  and  22nd  of  May  —  The  Siege  —  Surrender  of  the 
City  —  General  Ransom' s  Brigade  sent  to  Natchez  —  Its  operations 
while  there  —  Its  return  to  Vicksburg. 

SIMULTANEOUSLY  with  the  presence  of  General 
Grant's  army  at  Memphis,  a  large  fleet  of  trans- 
ports was  also  collecting  at  that  point  for  the  purpose  of 
conveying  the  troops  down  the  river  to  operate  against 
Vicksburg.  These  were  ready  by  the  19th  of  January 
for  the  reception  of  General  McArthur's  division, 
which  was  now  designated  as  the  6th  Division  of  the 
17th  Army  Corps,  commanded  by  Major  General  James 
B.  McPherson,  changes  in,  corps  organizations  having 
6 


54  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

occurred  at  Memphis.  On  that  day  the  Ninety-fifth 
embarked  upon  the  steamer  "  Maria  Denning,"  a  very 
capacious  but  aged  craft,  which  had  grown  old  in  a 
long  service  on  the  Mississippi  waters. 

The  Eleventh  Regiment  Iowa  Infantry,  Eighteenth 
Wisconsin,  and  a  company  of  the  Second  Illinois  Ar- 
tillery also  embarked  on  this  boat  at  the  same  time, 
and  ever}r  nook  and  corner  of  the  yet  staunch  old  tub 
was  filled  above  with  soldiers,  and  crammed  full  below 
decks  with  horses,  mules,  army  wagons  and  artillery. 
All  who  have  soldiered  it  are  well  acquainted  with  the 
delay  and  tediousness  attendant  upon  the  embarkation 
of  an  army  upon  steamboats,  and  all  members  of  the 
Ninety-fifth  well  remember,  that  this  at  Memphis  was 
one  of  that  nature,  the  regiment  having  remained  at 
the  levee,  standing  in  the  mud  from  morning  until 
afternoon  before  getting  aboard.  No  one  complained, 
however,  every  inconvenience  being  considered  a  mili- 
tary necessity.  Finally  the  troops  were  loaded,  one 
long  whistle  sounded  from  General  Me  Arthur's  flag- 
boat,  "  Platte  Valley,"  as  signal  for  starting,  the  splen- 
did fleet  of  fifteen  steamers  swung  out  into  the  stream, 
and  were  soon  steaming  down  the  river,  and  wending 
their  course  toward  the  subsequent  scene  of  busy 
military  operations  around  the  "Hill  City"  of  the 
South.  The  fleet  landed  each  day  before  dark,  lying 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  55 

by  nights,  and  arrived  at  Milliken's  Bend,  fifteen  miles 
above  Vicksburg,  on  the  26th  of  January.  The  troops 
disembarked  on  the  following  day,  going  into  camp 
near  the  levee.  It  was  a  few  miles  below  this  encamp- 
ment where  the  celebrated  canal  was  being  dug,  which 
was  intended  to  turn  the  channel  of  the  Mississippi 
sufficiently  to  admit  transports  and  gunboats,  and  thus 
gain  river  communication  below  the  city  of  Vicks- 
burg. 

Major  General  Sherman,  a  few  weeks  previous,  had 
ascended  the  Yazoo  river  with  a  large  force,  effected 
a  landing  near  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  and  stormed  the 
strong  line  of  the  enemy's  works  at  that  point,  with 
the  object  of  gaining  a  base  near  the  river  communi- 
cation on  the  north  side  of  Vicksburg.  This  expedi- 
tion failed  in  accomplishing  its  purpose,  though  not 
without  great  gallantry  displayed  on  the  part  of  the 
attacking  Union  columns.  The  canal  at  Young's 
Point  was  next  resorted  to  as  a  practicable  means  of 
flanking  Vicksburg,  and  the  numerous  batteries  lining 
its  bluffs,  and  of  obtaining  a  base  of  operations  at 
some  point  on  the  river  below  that  stronghold.  The 
river  makes  a  short  bend  near  Young's  Point,  and 
just  below,  on  the  east  side,  sat  the  haughty  city  of 
Vicksburg,  bidding  defiance  from  her  bluffy  heights 
to  the  near  approach  and  passage  of  Federal  trans- 


56  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

ports  and  gunboats.  The  Ninety -fifth,  soon  after 
arriving  near  Young's  Point,  aided  in  the  construction 
of  the  canal,  furnishing  details  of  men  day  and  night 
for  that  purposa  Colonel  Deitzler's  brigade,  however, 
remained  here  but  a  short  time,  and  was  soon  ordered 
up  the  river  to  initiate  the  digging  of  another  canal  at 
Lake  Providence.  Before  starting  on  this  trip,  an 
important  order,  affecting  the  standing  of  the  Ninety- 
fifth,  was  issued  by  the  brigade  commander,  and  I  take 
the  liberty  of  introducing  the  same  here,  deeming  it 
will  be  read  with  interest  by  all  surviving  members  of 
the  organization.  It  is  as  follows,  and  explains  itself : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  IST  BRIG.,  GTH  Div.,  17-TH  ARMY  CORPS,  i 
Camp  near  Young's  Point,  La.,  Jan.  30th,  1863.          \ 

SPECIAL  ORDERS,  No.  6. 

Paragraph  IV,  Special  Orders  Number  Five,  from  these  Head- 
quarters, imposing  a  fine  of  ten  dollars  each  on  certain  men  of  the 
Ninety-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  having  accomplished  the  end  for  which 
it  was  issued,  is  hereby  revoked. 

The  colonel  commanding  takes  this  occasion  to  compliment  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Ninety-fifth  regiment  for  their  excellent  dis- 
cipline. The  soldierly  bearing  and  conduct  of  a  very  large  majority 
of  the  men  of  said  regiment,  have  always  been  above  reproach, 
but  it  must  be  confessed  that  there  were  a  few  reckless  and  refrac- 
tory spirits,  whose  unmilitary  and  ungentlemanly  practices,  in  defi- 
ance of  regulations  and  orders,  had  a  very  demoralizing  tendency, 
and  would,  if  not  checked,  result  in  giving  to  the  whole  regiment 
an  unenviable  reputation.  The  stringent  orders  issued  and  enforced 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  57 

to  remedy  such  irregularities,  have  had  their  desired  effect;  the 
Ninety-fifth  stands  at  the  head  of  the  list  in  the  brigade,  if  not  in 
the  division,  in  point  of  good  order  and  discipline,  and  ' '  a  patient 
continuance  in  well-doing,"  which  is  certain  to  bring  its  reward  in 
any  position  of  life,  will  ensure  the  regiment  a  bright  record,  to 
which  they  can  point  with  pride. 
By  order  of 

GEORGE  W.  DEITZLER, 

S.  T.  SMITH,  Col.  Com' ng  \st  Brigade. 

Capt.  and  A.  A.  A.  Gen1 1. 

The  regiment  came  up  the  river,  and  landed  at  Lake 
Providence,  La.,  on  the  second  day  of  February,  1863. 
Colonel  Deitzler's  brigade  went  into  camp  there,  being 
the  first  troops,  and  for  some  days  the  only  ones,  sent 
to  that  place.  The  work  to  be  performed  here  was 
the  cutting  of  a  canal  from  the  Mississippi  river  to  the 
small  and  beautiful  lake,  a  half  mile  distant,  whose 
level  was  much  below  that  of  the  river  at  a  high  stage 
of  water.  At  this  season  of  the  year  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi  were  full.  The  lake  was  made  by  waters 
from  the  great  stream  which  swept  so  near  to  it,  and 
had  certain  outlets  or  bayous  running  in  the  direction 
of,  and  almost  connecting  with  the  Washita  river, 
which  empties  into  the  Red  river  some  miles  above  the 
mouth  of  the  latter.  It  was  supposed  that  on  letting 
the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  into  Lake  Providence  by 
a  canal,  the  principal  of  these  bayous  receiving  the 


58  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

flood  would  be  widened  and  deepened  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  allow  gunboats  and  river  transports 
to  pass  through,  and  convey  the  army  under  General 
Grant  to  some  available  point  on  the  Mississippi,  below 
the  city  of  Vicksburg.  The  great  question  of  the 
campaign  seemed  to  be,  how  was  the  defiant  fortress  of 
the  rebellion  in  the  Southwest  to  be  got  at  or  around, 
since  it  could  not  be  attacked  and  carried  from  the 
river  front  without  immense  loss  of  life.  The  ques- 
tion was  solved  only  by  the  persevering  genius  and 
moving  spirit  of  the  campaign,  in  those  attempts  and 
experiments  which  were  carried  on  under  his  direct 
supervision,  and  which  finally  resulted  in  such  glorious 
success  to  the  national  arms. 

On  the  day  after  the  arrival  of  the  Ninety-fifth  at 
Lake  Providence,  the  work  on  the  canal  was  com- 
menced, and  large  details  were  made  daily  on  the  regi- 
ment for  that  duty.  Most  of  the  labor  performed  on 
this  work  was  done  by  Colonel  Deitzler's  brigade, 
though  the  whole  of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps 
subsequently  came  up  from  Young's  Point,  and  camped 
at  and  near  the  lake. 

About  the  middle  of  the  month  of  February  the 
canal  was  completed  and  ready  for  conducting  a  large 
volume  of  the  Mississippi,  then  in  a  high  stage,  into 
the  calm  and  beautiful  lake  near  by.  Nothing  re- 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  59 

mained  but  to  cut  the  levee,  and  then  the  irresistible 
waters  rushed  through,  deepening  and  widening  the 
channel  as  the}'  foamed  onward,  seeking  their  level  in 
the  sleeping  lake,  in  the  bayous  beyond,  and  in  the 
low  lands  for  miles  around.  In  a  few  days  the  high 
banks  of  the  lake  were  filled  to  overflowing,  numer- 
ous plantations  were  flooded,  the  village  of  Lake 
Providence  itself  was  submerged,  and  the  different 
encampments  of  troops  endangered  by  the  rising 
waters.  The  father  of  waters,  loosened  from  its  bar- 
riers, was  on  a  rampage  through  Lake  Providence. 
The  experiment  was  now  tried  of  entering  steamboats 
into  the  lake  through  the  canal.  None,  however, 
attempted  the  feat  except  a  small  screw-steamer  of 
light  draught,  by  the  name  of  "  Rawlins,"  and  the  chan- 
nel never  became  of  sufficient  depth  to  admit  the  larger 
transports.  The  "  Eawlins,"  therefore,  had  a  fine  time 
of  it,  scudding  from  point  to  point  in  the  lake,  and 
doing  business  between  the  camps  which  dotted  either 
shore.  The  bayou  through  which  communication  was 
intended  from  the  lake  did  not  widen  and  deepen  suf- 
ficiently for  the  reception  of  large-sized  steamboats, 
though  the  different  pioneer  corps  of  the  army  had 
been  busily  employed  clearing  it  of  old  logs  and  rub- 
bish prior  to  the  introduction  of  the  waters.  This 
attempt,  therefore,  to  open  a  new  communication  to 


60  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

the  Mississippi  below  Vicksburg  was  abandoned  as 
impracticable,  though  it  was  not  without  its  good 
effects  in  hurting  the  rebellion  and  advancing  the  cause 
of  the  Union  in  the  campaign  then  progressing.  The 
whole  country  back  from  Lake  Providence  for  hun- 
dreds of  miles  into  the  interior  of  Louisiana  —  a  sec- 
tion prolific  of  rebels  and  abounding  in  all  the  various 
supplies  which  that  genial  clime  and  fertile  soil  pro- 
duced —  had  been  overflown  and  desolated  by  the  flood 
which  the  canal  had  brought  in  from  the  Mississippi 
river.  It  was  a  portion  of  country  whence  the  Con- 
federacy east  of  the  Mississippi  obtained  large  quan- 
tities of  subsistence  for  its  army,  and  if  the  canal 
turned  out  to  be  of  no  other  importance,  it  at  least 
struck  a  heavy  blow  at  the  rebellion  by  drowning 
out  and  despoiling  many  of  these  means  of  supply. 
Meanwhile  the  canal  at  Young's  Point  met  with 
similar  ill  success ;  both  were  abandoned,  and  imme- 
diately other  plans  were  projected  to  accomplish  the 
object  they  had  failed  to  effect. 

The  encampment  of  the  Ninety-fifth,  while  at  Lake 
Providence,  was  located  upon  low  grounds  near  the 
levee  and  the  canal.  It  occupied  the  same  camp  from 
the  time  of  landing  there,  on  the  2nd  of  February, 
1863,  until  the  commencement  of  the  grand  move- 
ment of  General  Grant's  army  from  Milliken's  Bend, 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  61 

La.,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  following  April.  During 
this  period  much  sickness  prevailed  in  the  regiment, 
and  its  hospital  building  in  the  village  was  crowded 
with  the  sick  soldiers,  who,  worn  down  by  the  fatigues 
of  the  active  duties  performed  since  entering  the  ser- 
vice, were  passing  through  acclimation,  and  were  now 
overtaken  by  the  afflictive  hand  of  prostrating  disease. 
The  cases  of  sickness  increased  for  a  time  with  fright- 
ful rapidity,  though  every  precaution  was  taken,  and 
means  employed  to  prevent  its  alarming  prevalence. 
Deaths  became  of  frequent  occurrence ;  the  muffled 
drum,  with  its  mournful  roll,  beating  time  to  the  famil- 
iar dead-march,  gave  notice  almost  daily  that  the  corpse 
of  some  Union  soldier  was  being  consigned  to  the 
burial  ground  near  by  —  to  an  early  grave  in  the  low, 
wet  soil  at  Lake  Providence.  Yet  disease,  sickness 
and  death  were  not  confined  to  the  Ninety -fifth  alone. 
Other  troops  who  entered  the  service  at  about  the  same 
time,  experienced  their  full  share  of  these  inconven- 
iences, while  the  old  soldiers,  having  become  fully 
acclimated  to  the  Southern  climate,  fared  much  better. 
All  regiments,  at  a  certain  period  after  entering  the 
service,  are  required  to  pass  through  such  an  ordeal 
of  sickness.  There  are  certain  diseases  which  the  ma- 
jority of  a  regiment  are  bound  to  experience.  Some 
are  carried  away  by  them,  or  rendered  unfit  for  fur- 
7 


62  HISTORY   OP  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

ther  duty  in  the  army,  while  many,  possessing  those 
strong  constitutions  bestowed  by  nature,  adapted  for 
encountering  the  rough  trials  of  military  life,  come 
forth  with  renewed  and  rugged  health,  and  seem  better 
prepared  than  ever  to  execute  the  tasks  set  before 
them. 

While  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  was  encamped 
at  Providence,  the  new  policy  of  the  Government  in 
organizing  and  arming  negroes  for  military  duty  was 
carried  into  effect  Soon  after  the  arrival  of  Colonel 
Deitzler's  brigade  at  this  place,  large  numbers  of  col- 
ored people  flocked  in  from  the  surrounding  country 
responsive  to  President  Lincoln's  Proclamation,  issued 
on  the  22nd  day  of  September,  1862,  which,  on  the 
failure  of  the  States  in  rebellion  to  comply  with  its 
conditions,  namely,  to  lay  down  their  arms  and  re- 
turn to  their  allegiance,  was  to  be  carried  into  effect 
on  and  after  January  1st,  1863.  As  is  well  known, 
the  proclamation  was  not  accepted  or  complied  with 
on  the  part  of  the  rebels  except  in  few  localities  in  the 
Confederacy,  and  accordingly  the  population  of  Afri- 
can descent  embraced  the  opportunity  whenever  it 
was  possible,  of  fleeing  from  their  old  masters  and 
swarming  into- the  Union  lines  for  protection.  It  was 
claimed  by  some  people,  and  there  are  probably  those 
who  still  adhere  to  the  opinion,  that  the  war  against 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  63 

secession  was  carried  on  by  the  Government  from  the 
beginning  with  the  prominent  idea  on  the  part  of  the 
Administration  of  abolishing  slavery  in  the  States 
where  it  existed,  and  that  the  incipient  plan  of  eman- 
cipating the  slaves  was  fully  illustrated  and  carried  into 
practice  by  the  Proclamation  of  President  Lincoln 
which  freed  and  authorized  the  arming  of  the  negroes. 
To  show  the  fallacy  of  this  misconceived  notion, 
the  military  action  and  policy  of  the  Government  rela- 
tive to  the  subject  of  slavery,  as  announced  in  the  acts 
of  Congress,  in  different  orders  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment, and  from  various  commanding  generals  in  the 
field,  may  be  referred  to  as  a  recorded  and  complete 
refutation  of  the  accusation,  and  an  unanswerable  ar- 
gument that  the  final  edict  of  emancipation  was  issued 
only  after  a  series  of  attempts  on  the  part  of  the  Fed- 
eral Government  to  avoid  it  by  constant  appeals  to 
rebels  in  arms  to  return  to  their  allegiance,  and  was 
proclaimed  only  as  a  war  measure  to  hurt  traitors  and 
kill  rebellion. 

When  General  Fremont,  in  the  very  beginning  of 
the  war,  assumed  to  receive  negro  fugitives  fleeing  to 
his  army  from  the  plantations  of  Missouri,  and  de- 
creed their  freedom,  an  order  from  Washington  imme- 
diately informed  him  that  his  action  was  disapproved, 
and  that  all  such  fugitives  coming  into  the  Union  lines 


64  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

should  be  returned  to  their  owners,  or  at  least  be 
prohibited  from  seeking  refuge  and  remaining  within 
the  Federal  encampments.  The  same  line  of  policy 
was  marked  out  plainly  for  commanding  officers  to 
pursue  in  dealing  with  slavery  in  other  portions  of  the 
United  States,  showing  conclusively  that  it  was  not 
the  desire  or  intention  of  the  Government  to  molest  or 
interfere  with  the  domestic  institutions  of  any  State. 
The  States  in  rebellion  did  not  appreciate  or  profit  by 
this  forbearing,  lenient  and  coaxing  treatment  of  the 
General  Government,  and  long  afterward,  in  1862,  the 
policy  of  the  Federal  Administration  was  necessarily 
changed  to  more  vigorous  measures  against  the  rebel- 
lion and  its  handmaid,  slavery,  as  demanded  by  the 
stern  necessities  of  the  times.  The  following  extracts 
from  an  order  issued  by  General  Grant,  while  at  Cor- 
inth, Miss.,  in  August,  1862,  show  plainly  that  even 
at  that  stage  of  the  contest  the  object  of  the  war  was 
not  the  general  emancipation  of  negroes  in  the  South, 
nor  to  meddle  with  the  peculiar  institution,  except  to 
receive  and  employ  those  fugitives  who  came  into  the 
camps  as  laborers,  in  the  capacity  of  teamsters,  cooks 
and  servants.  It  was  as  follows : 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  65 

HEAD-QUARTERS  DISTRICT  OP  WEST  TENNESSEE, 

Corinth,  Miss.,  August  llth,  1862. 
GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  72. 

Recent  acts  of  Congress  prohibit  the  array  from  returning  fugitives 
from  labor  to  their  claimants,  and  authorize  the  employment  of  such 
persons  in  the  service  of  the  Government.  The  following  orders 
are,  therefore,  published  for  the  guidance  of  the  army  in  the  mili- 
itary  district  in  this  matter  : 

I.  All  fugitives  thus  employed  must  be  registered,  the  names  of 
the  fugitives  and  claimants  given,  and  must  be  borne  upon  the  morn- 
ing reports  of  the  command  in  which  they  are  kept,  showing  how 
they  are  employed. 

II.  Fugitive  slaves  may  be  employed  as  laborers  in  the  Quarter- 
master's, Subsistence  or  Engineer  departments,  and  whenever  by 
such  employment  a  soldier  may  be  saved  to  the  ranks.     They  may 
be  employed  as  teamsters,  as  company  cooks  —  not  exceeding  four 
to  a  company  —  or  as  hospital  attendants  and  nurses.     Officers  may 
employ  them  as  private  servants,   in  which  latter  case  the  fugitives 
will  not  be  paid  or  rationed  by  the  Government.     Negroes  not  thus 
employed  will  be  deemed  unauthorized  persons,  and  must  be  ex- 
cluded from  camp. 

III.  Officers  and  soldiers  are  positively  prohibited  from  enticing 
slaves  to  leave  their  masters.     When  it  becomes  necessary  to  em- 
ploy this  kind  of  labor,  commanding  officers  of  posts  or  troops  must 
send  details  —  always  under  the  charge  of  a  suitable  commissioned 
officer  —  to  press  into  the  service  the  slaves  of  disloyal  persons,  to 

the  number  required. 

********* 

By  command  of 

MAJOR  GENERAL  U.  S.   GRANT. 
JOHN  A.  RAWLINS, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


66  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

This  rule  of  military  action  in  reference  to  slavery 
was  rigidly  adhered  to  and  carried  out  in  General 
Grant's  campaign  through  Northern  Mississippi,  in 
December,  1862,  and  up  to  February  of  the  following 
year,  the  time  when  his  troops  were  encamped  at  Lake 
Providence.  President  Lincoln's  proclamation  of  Sep- 
tember, 1862,  stated : 

"  That  hereafter,  as  heretofore,  the  war  will  be  prose- 
cuted for  the  object  of  practically  restoring  the  con- 
stitutional relation  between  the  United  States  and  each 
of  the  States  and  the  people  thereof,  in  which  States 
that  relation  is  or  may  be  suspended  or  disturbed. 
That  it  was  his  purpose,  upon  the  next  meeting  of 
Congress,  to  again  recommend  the  adoption  of  a  prac- 
tical measure  tendering  pecuniary  aid  to  the  free 
acceptance  or  rejection  of  all  slave  States  so  called, 
the  people  whereof  may  not  then  be  in  rebellion 
against  the  United  States,  and  which  States  may  then 
have  voluntarily  adopted,  or  thereafter  may  volunta- 
rily adopt  immediate  or  gradual  abolishment  of  slavery 
within  their  respective  limits ;  and  that  the  effort  to 
colonize  persons  of  African  descent,  with  their  con- 
sent, upon  this  continent,  or  elsewhere,  with  the  pre- 
viously obtained  consent  of  the  government  existing 
there,  will  be  continued.  That  on  the  1st  day  of  Jan- 
uary, in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hun- 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  67 

dred  and  sixty-three,  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within 
any  State  or  designated  part  of  a  State,  the  people 
whereof  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United 
States,  shall  be  thenceforward  and  forever  free ;  and 
the  executive  government  of  the  United  States,  in- 
cluding the  military  and  naval  authority  thereof,  will 
recognize  and  maintain  the  freedom  of  such  persons, 
and  will  do  no  act  to  repress  such  persons,  or  any  of 
them,  in  any  effort  they  may  make  for  their  actual 
freedom.  That  the  Executive  will,  on  the  first  day  of 
January,  aforesaid,  by  proclamation,  designate  the 
States  and  parts  of  States,  if  any,  in  which  the  people 
thereof  respectively  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against 
the  United  States ;  and  the  fact  that  any  State,  or  the 
people  thereof,  shall  on  that  day  be  in  good  faith  rep- 
resented in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  by 
members  chosen  thereto  at  elections  wherein  a  major- 
ity of  the  qualified  voters  of  such  State  shall  have 
participated,  shall,  in  the  absence  of  strong  counter- 
vailing testimony  be  deemed  conclusive  evidence  that 
such  State  and  the  people  thereof  are  not  then  in  rebel- 
lion against  the  United  States." 

Meanwhile  the  seceded  States  spurned  this  offer 
of  remuneration  and  guaranty  of  property  in  case 
of  their  return  to  loyalty,  and  up  to  the  first  day  of 
January,  1863,  no  proposition  was  ever  heard  of  from 


68  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

any  of  them,  no  action  was  ever  taken  on  their  part 
indicating  a  desire  to  resume  their  relations  to  the 
Union,  upon  the  liberal  terms  proposed.  The  rebel- 
lion continued.  The  war  was  prosecuted  in  all  its 
rigor,  and  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1863,  the  chief 
executive  of  the  nation,  in  fulfillment  of  what  he  had 
previously  declared,  and  from  which  the  South  had 
had  long  opportunity  to  escape,  sent  forth  the  cele- 
brated fiat  of  emancipation,  carrying  freedom  to 
millions  of  human  beings  theretofore  employed  in 
the  interests  of  the  Confederacy,  and  striking  a  death- 
blow at  the  head  and  front  of  the  rebellion  itself. 
After  reciting  the  substance  of  his  September  procla- 
mation, he  declared  as  follows  : 

"  Now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of 
the  United  States,  by  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested 
as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the 
United  States,  and  as  a  fit  and  necessary  war  measure 
for  suppressing  said  rebellion,  do,  on  this  first  day 
of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  and  in  accordance  with 
my  purpose  so  to  do  publicly  proclaimed  for  the  full 
period  of  one  hundred  days  from  the  day  first  above 
mentioned,  order  and  designate  as  the  States  and  parts 
of  States  wherein  the  people  thereof  respectively  are 
this  day  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States,  the  fol- 
lowing, to  wit :  *  *  And 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  69 

by  virtue  of  the  power  and  for  the  purpose  aforesaid, 
I  do  order  and  declare  that  all  persons  held  as  slaves 
within  said  designated  States  and  parts  of  States,  are 
and  henceforward  shall  be  free ;  and  that  the  Execu- 
tive Government  of  the  United  States,  including  the 
military  and  naval  authorities  thereof,  will  recognize 
and  maintain  the  freedom  of  said  persons.  And  I 
further  declare  and  make  known,  that  such  persons,  of 
suitable  condition,  will  be  received  into  the  armed 
service  of  the  United  States,  to  garrison  forts,  posi- 
tions, stations  and  other  places,  and  to  man  vessels  of 
all  sorts  in  said  service.  And  upon  this  act,  sincerely 
believed  to  be  an  act  of  justice,  warranted  by  the  Con- 
stitution upon  military  necessity,  I  invoke  the  consid- 
erate judgment  of  mankind  and  the  gracious  favor  of 
Almighty  God." 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1863,  the  third  year  of 
the  rebellion,  the  organization  of  negro  troops  began 
at  Lake  Providence,  in  accordance  with  the  policy  of 
the  Government  thus  declared.  Adjutant  General 
Thomas  came  on  a  mission  from  Washington  to  inau- 
gurate the  new  movement,  and  arrived  at  Lake  Provi- 
dence at  an  early  day  for  the  purpose  of  commissioning 
and  mustering  the  new  colored  regiments  organizing 
there  into  the  United  States  service.  Several  regiments 
were  raised  in  a  short  space  of  time,  and  officered  by 


70  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

men  taken  from  the  white  troops.  The  Ninety-fifth 
furnished  a  number  of  commissioned  and  non-commis- 
sioned officers  for  this  purpose,  and  these  colored  regi- 
ments thus  formed  were  prepared  in  a  few  weeks  to 
do  important  service  in  the  operations  which  were  then 
going  on  against  Vicksburg. 

While  the  regiment  was  at  Lake  Providence  the 
resignation  of  Colonel  L.  S.  Church  was  received,  and 
subsequently  Lt.  CoL  Thomas  W.  Humphrey  was 
advanced  to  that  rank.  Since  the  time  Colonel  Church 
was  obliged  to  leave  the  regiment  at  Columbus,  Ken- 
tucky, his  health  had  improved  but  little,  and  the 
prospect  of  his  ever  being  permitted  to  rejoin  his  com- 
mand became  more  and  more  discouraging.  Much 
against  his  own  wishes,  and  to  the  universal  regret  of 
his  officers  and  men,  he  resigned  his  commission  in  the 
army.  Attended  with  good  health,  he  must  have 
proven  a  leading  man  in  the  war  against  the  rebellion. 
Character,  talents  and  influence  would  have  won  for 
him  high  estimation  and  rank  among  military  men. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1863,  General  Grant  assem- 
bled his  whole  army  at  and  near  Milliken's  Bend, 
Louisiana,  for  a  grand  forward  movement  across  the 
State,  with  the  intention  of  striking  the  Mississippi 
river  at  "  Hard  Times  Landing,"  crossing  it  near  Grand 
Gulf,  and  thence  around  to  the  rear  of  Vicksburg. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  71 

This  was  the  final  experiment  originated  by  him  for 
accomplishing  the  grand  object  of  the  campaign.  The 
attempts  to  gain  a  foothold  and  base  of  operations  up 
the  Yazoo  river,  and  to  make  the  canals  at  Young's 
Point  and  Lake  Providence  feasible  lines  of  commu- 
cation,  had  been  tried  and  given  up,  but  this  last  one 
was  destined  to  be  crowned  with  complete  success, 
and  to  result  in  all  those  glorious  consequences  which 
followed  in  the  campaign. 

Prior  to  moving  his  army  by  land  at  this  time,  the 
trial  of  running  a  number  of  river  transports  and  gun- 
boats by  the  numerous  batteries  which  were  planted 
on  the  bluffs  at  Yicksburg,  was  daringly  and  success- 
fully performed.  These  steamers  were  manned  by 
men  from  different  infantry  regiments,  who  volun- 
teered to  accompany  the  boats  through  the  fiery,  per- 
ilous gauntlet,  and  who  afterward  received  honorable 
rewards  for  their  courage  and  daring,  from  General 
Grant  and  from  the  Government.  The  Federal  army, 
which  had  so  long  encamped  at  Lake  Providence, 
commenced  embarking  on  steamers  and  moving  down 
the  river  to  Milliken's  Bend,  sixty  miles  distant,  in 
the  latter  part  of  April,  1863,  and  Colonel  Deitzler's 
brigade,  of  General  McArthur's  division,  was  left  at 
the  former  place  to  garrison  that  post.  The  Ninety- 
fifth  was  subsequently  ordered  by  the  division  com- 


72  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

mander  from  Lake  Providence,  to  take  part  in  the 
active  campaign  now  opening  from  Milliken's  Bend. 
It  arrived  there  about  the  first  of  May,  and  the 
army  having  moved  forward,  it  immediately  pushed 
on  through  Eichmond,  Louisiana,  to  Smith's  Planta- 
tion, where  General  Me' Arthur's  division  was  then 
halting.  It  was  here  assigned  to  Brigadier  General 
T.  E.  G.  Ransom's  brigade,  6th  Division,  17th  Army 
Corps.  This  brigade  was  now  one  of  the  strongest 
and  best  in  the  whole  army,  being  composed  of  the 
Eleventh,  Seventy-second  and  Ninety-fifth  Illinois, 
the  Fourteenth  and  Seventeenth  Wisconsin  Infantry, 
and  Battery  "  F,"  2nd  Illinois  Artillery,  commanded 
by  Captain  J.  W.  Powell.  On  the  10th  of  May  the 
brigade  resumed  the  march,  by  the  way  of  Perkins' 
Plantation  and  Lake  St  Joseph,  and  arrived  at  "  Hard 
Times  Landing  "  on  the  12th.  The  transports  which 
had  successfully  passed  the  batteries  at  Yicksburg 
were  in  readiness  at  this  point  to  convey  the  troops 
across  the  river  to  Grand  Gulf,  and  on  the  same  day 
the  regiments  of  General  Ransom's  brigade  embarked 
and  crossed  over  to  Grand  Gulf,  which  strong  rebel 
position  had  been  recently  taken  by  the  advance  of 
General  Grant's  army.  Thus  in  a  few  days  the  whole 
army  of  the  Tennessee  was  transferred,  by  the  great 
military  genius  directing  affairs,  to  the  east  side  of  the 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  73 

Mississippi,  sixty  miles  below  Yicksburg,  and  was  now 
ready  to  march  rapidly  to  the  rear  and  to  the  very 
gates  of  that  fortress.  The  line  of  march  from  Grand 
Gulf  was  by  way  of  Bowl's  Creek,  Big  Sandy  and 
Eaymond,  where  the  Ninety-fifth  arrived  on  the  16th 
of  May,  the  day  the  great  and  decisive  battle  was  being 
fought  at  Champion  Hills  and  Baker's  Creek.  Gene- 
ral Eansom's  brigade  pushed  forward  to  take  part  in 
the  terrible  contest  there  being  waged,  and  arrived  on 
the  field  just  as  the  Federal  army  had  carried  the  day 
and  swept  everj^thing  before  it  to  the  Big  Black.  The 
regiment  took  part  in  the  general  pursuit  which  en- 
sued, crossed  the  Big  Black  river  on  the  18th  of  May, 
and  hurrying  on  twelve  miles  farther,  camped  the 
same  night  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  enemy's 
earth-works  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg.  The  various 
army  corps  moved  forward  with  enthusiasm,  on  differ- 
ent roads,  and  by  sunset  of  that  day  the  rebel  lines 
around  the  place  were  thoroughly  invested  and  all 
avenues  of  escape  effectually  closed.  These  rapid 
events  necessitated  the  speedy  evacuation  by  the 
rebels  of  Haines'  Bluff.  The  Federal  gunboats  and 
transports  simultaneously  moved  up  the  Yazoo,  and 
here  secured  a  permanent  base  of  supplies,  and  conve- 
nient to  the  army  investing  the  city. 

The  following  day,  May  19th,  was  to  be  a  busy, 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

fierce  and  bloody  one  for  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee. A  charge  was  ordered  along  our  whole 
lines  upon  the  enemy's  works,  to  take  place  at  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  the  appointed  hour 
the  furious  onset  commenced.  General  Sherman's 
15th  Army  Corps  occupied  the  right  of  the  Federal 
line,  resting  on  the  river  above  Vicksburg ;  General 
McPherson's  17th  Army  Corps  held  the  centre,  and 
the  13th  Corps,  under  General  McClernand,  held  the 
left,  extending  nearly  to  the  river  on  the  south  side  of 
the  city.  The  ground  in  front  of  General  Ransom's 
brigade,  and  over  which  it  charged  at  this  time,  was 
located  near  the  Jackson  road,  on  the  right  of  the 
celebrated  "  White  House,"  and  near  to  the  notorious 
"Fort  Hill."  Cut,  as  it  was,  into  deep  ravines,  and 
covered  with  fallen  timber,  and  each  ravine  being  en- 
filaded by  the  enemy's  fire,  it  was  ground  of  the  very 
worst  character  to  expose  and  impede  an  advancing 
column.  There  were  intervening  ridges  to  be  passed 
over,  which  brought  the  charging  regiments  into  open 
and  close  range  of  a  murderous  fire  of  musketry  and 
artillery  from  the  enemy's  line. 

The  Ninety-fifth  held  an  important  position  in  the 
brigade  during  this  memorable  charge,  and,  led  forward 
by  its  gallant  colonel,  advanced  under  a  galling  fire  to 
a  ridge  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  rebel  works, 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  75 

and  held  the  position  during  the  remainder  of  the  day. 
While  maintaining  this  position  Colonel  Humphrey 
received  the  following  dispatch  from  General  Hansom : 

"Cot,.— 

You  have  done  well,  nobly.  I  desire  that  you  hold  your  position. 
Do  not  expose  your  men  or  waste  ammunition.  I  occupy  the  rear 
of  the  ridge  back  of  you.  Will  move  forward  as  soon  as  we  are 
supported  on  the  right  and  left.  I  expect  to  hear  from  General 

McPherson. 

T.  E.   G.  RANSOM, 

Brig.  Gen1 1." 

Colonel  Humphrey,  early  in  the  action,  received  a 
wound  in  the  foot,  but  remained  with  his  command, 
cheering  on  his  men,  until  he  received  orders  to  with- 
draw his  regiment  under  cover  of  darkness  that  night 
Thus  the  attempt  to  carry  the  enemy's  works  on  the 
19th,  failed  at  this  as  well  as  at  all  other  points  on  the 
Federal  line,  but  not  without  the  exhibition  of 
undaunted  courage,  reckless  daring,  and  the  perform- 
ance of  great  deeds  on  the  part  of  our  troops.  The 
Ninety -fifth  was  largely  represented  in  the  list  of  cas- 
ualties this  day,  having  had  seven  men  killed  and 
fifty-four  wounded. 

General  Grant,  with  his  characteristic  perseverance, 
ordered  the  assault  to  be  renewed  on  the  22nd  of  May, 
with  the  intention,  if  possible,  of  breaking  through 
the  enemy's  line  at  certain  points,  then  of  heavily 


76  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

reenforcing  the  successful  assaulting  column,  with  the 
hope  and  prospect  of  thus  carrying  the  day.  At  ten 
o'clock  A.  M.,  on  the  22nd,  the  charge  began  again  fu- 
riously. The  Ninety -fifth,  on  this  occasion,  also  gained 
an  advanced  position  on  the  crest  of  a  ridge  near  the 
enemy's  works,  encountering  one  of  the  most  sweeping 
and  destructive  fires  to  which  troops  were  ever  exposed. 
Colonel  Humphrey,  in  advance  of  and  leading  his 
regiment,  exthusiastic  with  the  desire  to  storm  the  forti- 
fications in  his  immediate  front,  determined  to  accom- 
plish it,  if  among  human  possibilities,  and  with  that 
natural  daring  which  characterized  the  man,  pressed 
onward  over  that  ridge,  then  being  swept  by  rebel 
musketry,  and  plowed  up  by  rebel  shot  and  shell. 
The  regiment  attempted  to  follow  their  leader,  and 
bravely  rallied  to  the  charge,  but  to  advance  was  to 
meet  certain  death,  and  it  was  plain  that  a  farther 
prosecution  of  the  undertaking  would  annihilate  the 
regiment  It  had  gone  into  the  charge  with  three 
hundred  and  sixty-seven  officers  and  enlisted  men  in 
line  of  battle,  and  upwards  of  one  hundred  of  the 
same  had  already  been  rendered  hors  du  combat 
Captain  Manzer,  of  Company  "  C,"  and  Captain  Corn- 
well,  of  "K,"  were  killed;  Major  William  Avery, 
Captain  Cook,  of  "  D,"  Lieutenant  Smith,  of  "  C," 
Sponable,  of  "  A,"  and  Pierce,  of  "  I "  companies, 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  77 

were  severely  wounded,  while  a  large  percentage  of 
the  enlisted  men  had  been  killed  and  wounded.  The 
heroic  colonel  had  gone  on  in  advance,  and  was  given 
up  as  killed.  Orders  came  during  the  afternoon  for 
the  murderous  and  unequal  conflict  to  cease  on  our 
part,  and  the  regiment  was  gradually  withdrawn  to  a 
neighboring  ravine  for  better  protection.  Toward 
night,  with  thinned  ranks,  and  having  left  many  a 
gallant  soldier  killed  and  wounded  on  the  field,  the 
little  band  of  Ninety-fifth  men,  exhausted  by  the  ef- 
forts of  the  day,  wended  its  course  among  the  ravines 
back  a  short  distance  to  the  brigade  encampment. 
The  colonel,  as  has  been  stated,  was  supposed  to  hav  e 
been  killed  during  the  charge,  as  nothing  had  been 
seen  or  heard  of  him  since  he  crossed  the  ridge.  Gene- 
ral Kansoni  had  ordered  a  coffin  for  the  reception  of 
the  corpse,  so  certain  was  he  of  Colonel  Humphrey's 
death.  The  latter,  however,  turned  out  to  be  safe,  and 
during  the  same  evening  appeared,  to  the  great  delight 
and  astonishment  of  all,  at  General  Ransom's  head- 
quarters, where  the  coffin  was  then  in  readiness ! 
After  passing  over  the  ridge  mentioned,  Colonel  Hum- 
phre^y  lay  down  closely  upon  the  ground,  as  it  was 
impossible  for  a  human  being  then  to  be  visible  above 
it  and  live.  In  this  condition,  with  the  mad  cannon 
balls  screaming  over  him,  and  plowing  around  his 
8 


78  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

body,  covering  him  with  dirt,  and  benumbing  his 
limbs,  he  remained  until  evening,  when  he  noiselessly 
crept  from  his  precarious  position,  and  appeared  so 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly  in  camp,  as  already  re- 
lated. 

Brigadier  General  Kansom,  in  his  report  of  these 
charges,  makes  the  following  allusions  to  the  Ninety- 
fifth  : 

"  On  the  19th,  the  Ninety-fifth  Illinois,  Colonel 
Humphrey,  commanding,  reached  a  ridge  within  one 
hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  works,  and,  though  ex- 
posed to  an  enfilading  fire  of  artillery,  maintained 
their  position  until  night,  when  I  withdrew  them  to  a 
safer  position.  Early  in  the  action  Colonel  Humphrey 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  foot,  but  would  not 
leave  the  field.  His  loss  was  much  heavier  than  that 

of  any  other  regiment  in  my  command. 

****** 

"  On  the  22nd  inst,  in  compliance  with  the  order 
for  a  simultaneous  assault,  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  I  moved 
my  command  under  cover  of  my  sharp  shooters, 
through  a  net-work  of  ravines,  filled  with  fallen  timber 
and  cane  brake,  to  a  point  within  sixty  yards  of  the 
enemy's  works,  and  massed  my  troops  as  well  as  the 
nature  of  the  ground  would  admit.  Colonel  Giles 
Smith's  brigade,  of  General  Sherman's  corps,  took 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  79 

position  at  the  same  time  on  my  right,  and  the  two 
brigades  moved  together  to  the  charge.  The  enemy 
had,  in  the  meantime,  massed  troops  behind  his  works 
in  our  front,  and  poured  into  my  ranks  one  continuous 
blaze  of  musketry,  while  the  artillery  on  my  left 
threw  enfilading  shot  and  shell  into  my  columns 
with  deadly  effect.  Almost  at  the  first  fire,  two  of 
my  leading  colonels  fell,  Colonel  Nevins,  of  the  llth 
Illinois,  killed,  and  Colonel  Humphrey,  of  the  95th 
Illinois  Infantry,  stunned  by  the  concussion  of  a 
shell." 

The  charge  of  the  22nd  of  May  was,  therefore, 
another  failure  to  accomplish  the  object  desired,  and 
similar  results  were  experienced  all  along  the  Federal 
lines.  No  portion  of  the  enemy's  works  had  been 
taken  and  held,  and  no  point  in  them  was  even  pos- 
sessed by  our  forces  at  any  time  during  the  assault. 
Great  bravery,  daring  and  determination  had  been 
everywhere  exhibited  by  the  charging  columns.  They 
had  met  with  repulse,  still  they  were  neither  dis- 
couraged nor  whipped. 

Nor  was  the  invincible  Grant  downcast,  or  fearful  of 
the  consequences.  It  was  only  a  part  of  the  series  of 
his  great  attempts  by  which  he  finally  wrung  victory 
from  a  stubborn  foe.  If  he  failed  in  one  undertaking, 
he  immediately  resorted  to  another ;  if  in  that,  to  a 


80  HISTOEY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

third,  and  so  on,  until  lie  accomplished  his  object. 
The  word  failure  has  never  been  written  in  his  mili- 
tary vocabulary,  and  the  motto,  "  Perseverantia  vincit 
omnia" has  carried  him  wonderfully  and  steadily  for- 
ward to  the  accomplishment  of  great  deeds,  and  won 
for  him  a  renown  unequaled  in  history. 

After  the  unsuccessful  charges  on  the  19th  and  22nd 
of  May,  satisfied  that  the  rebel  works  could  not  be 
carried  by  assault  without  great  slaughter,  General 
Grant  set  his  whole  army  at  work  digging  and  en- 
trenching, determined  to  reduce  the  city  by  seige. 
The  experience  of  the  past  few  days  had  proved  it  to 
be  in  much  stronger  condition  of  defense  than  was  an- 
ticipated. The  necessary  delay  of  the  Federal  army 
in  crossing  the  Big  Black  river,  after  the  battle  of 
Champion  Hills,  had  allowed  the  enemy,  under  Pem- 
berton,  to  collect  his  forces  at  Vicksburg,  recover  par- 
tially from  recent  disaster,  and  make  important  prepa- 
rations on  the  natural  fortifications  surrounding  the 
city  to  receive  the  advancing  Union  columns. 

The  great  seige  now  began,  and  was  prosecuted  vigo- 
rously ;  all  through  the  sultry  days  of  May  and  June, 
1863,  our  lines  were  gradually  advanced  toward  the 
enemy's  works.  Each  morning  presented  some  new 
parallel  and  newly  made  forts,  from  which  our  artillery 
could  play  with  nearer  and  deadlier  effect  than  before. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  81 

The  regiments  of  General  Kansom's-brigade  and  Cap- 
tain Powell's  artillery,  all  performed  their  full  share  of 
this  long,  tedious,  but  well-rewarded  labor,  taking  im- 
portant part  in  constructing  the  forts,  and  digging  ap- 
proaches to  the  enemy's  fortifications.  By  the  3rd  of 
July,  the  day  on  which  the  Confederate  garrison  sur- 
rendered, this-  brigade  had  carried  its  trenches  under 
one  of  the  main  forts  on  the  rebel  line,  and  had  a  mine 
located  there,  ready  for  explosion,  when  news  of  the 
capitulation  was  announced,  arid  hostilities  at  once 
ceased. 

On  the  4th  day  of  July,  1863,  the  Ninety-fifth  was 
among  the  first  regiments  to  enter  and  take  possession 
of  the  city.  With  the  victorious  stars  and  stripes  un- 
furled, and  with  music  playing  the  national  airs,  these 
dusty,  scarred  and  war-worn  battalions,  keeping  step 
to  the  music  of  the  Union,  marched  through  the  streets 
of  Yicksburg,  and  thence  to  camps  assigned  around 
the  city.  Soon  after  the  fall  o'f  Vicksburg,  Port  Hud- 
son was  surrendered  to  General  Banks,  and  thus  the 
Mississippi  was  cleared  of  rebel  obstructions  and 
blockades  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

On  the  12th  day  of  July,  General  Eansom's  brigade 
was  ordered  to  embark  at  Yicksburg  and  proceed  to 
Natchez,  for  the  purpose  of  occupying  that  point.  It 
arrived  there  on  the  following  day,  and  effected  a 


82  HISTORY  OP  THE  NINETY -FIFTH 

landing  without  opposition.  The  citizens  were  sur- 
prised at  this  sudden  appearance  of  Federal  troops 
among  them,  and  in  a  short  time  after  arriving,  the 
place  was  strengly  occupied,  and  all  avenues  leading 
into  the  city  well  picketed.  Twenty  rebel  officers  and 
soldiers  were  captured  while  attempting  to  escape.  A 
large  Confederate  force,  under  the  rebel  Colonel  Logan, 
was  then  stationed  in  that  vicinity  to  watch  the  move- 
ments of  our  forces,  and  to  guard  the  large  droves  of 
cattle  which  were  being  shipped  from  Texas'  through 
this  post,  to  Johnston's  army  in  the  East  It  was  soon 
ascertained  by  General  Ransom  that  a  large  number 
of  these  cattle  were  then  pasturing  a  few  miles  east  of 
the  city.  An  expedition  was  immediately  organized 
of  mounted  infantry,  and  started  in  quest  of  them. 
Having  advanced  about  four  miles,  an  immense  herd 
of  five  thousand  Texas  cattle  was  found,  and  a  small 
rebel  guard  over  them  having  been  put  to  flight,  they 
were  captured,  driven  back  to  Natchez,  and  subse- 
quently shipped  to  Vicksburg.  Information  was  also 
received  that  within  a  few  days  one  hundred  and 
fifty  wagons  loaded  with  ordnance  stores  for  Kirby 
Smith,  had  been  ferried  across  at  Natchez  to  the  Lou- 
isiana shore.  Another  force  of  mounted  infantry  ac- 
cordingly was  sent  in  pursuit,  overtook  the  train  fif- 
teen miles  out,  captured  the  rear-guard,  consisting  of 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNEEERS.  88 

a  lieutenant  and  a  few  men,  and  brought  back  three 
hundred  and  twelve  new  Austrian  muskets,  two  hun- 
dred and  three  thousand  rounds  of  cartridges,  eleven 
boxes  of  artillery  ammunition,  and  destroyed  a  large 
quantity  of  ammunition  which  could  not  be  moved. 
This  force  of  mounted  infantry  was  made  up  from  the 
several  regiments  of  the  brigade,  using  such  spare 
horses  as  were  found  in  the  vicinity,  and  all  placed 
under  command  of  Major  Asa  Worden,  of  the  14th 
Wisconsin  Infantry.  That  portion  of  it  which  repre- 
sented the  Ninety-fifth  was  in  charge  of  Captain  Charles 
B.  Loop.  There  being  no  regular  cavalry  furnished 
General  Hansom  at  this  place,  he  was  obliged  to  or- 
ganize a  band  of  this  kind  for  scouting  and  other  pur- 
poses around  Natchez,  and  on  many  occasions  it  ren- 
dered the  Government  very  efficient  service.  On  the 
22nd  of  July,  Major  Worden's  mounted  command 
(two  hundred  strong,)  started  from  Natchez  on  a  two 
days'  scout  in  the  country  east  of  the  city,  making  a 
circuit  through  Washington,  Woodville  and  Kingston. 
During  this  scout  the  party  destroyed  two  hundred 
and  seven  thousand  rounds  of  infantry  ammunition, 
found  concealed  in  a  ravine,  and  fifty-six  boxes  of  ar- 
tillery ammunition.  They  also  found  large  quantities 
of  "  C.  S.  A."  cotton. 

On  the  26th,  it  was  again  sent  out  in  the  direction 


84  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

of  the  Mississippi  Central  Eailroad,  with  orders  to 
reconnoitre  the  country,  seize  and  destroy  or  secure 
any  ammunition  or  other  supplies  for  the  rebel  army, 
mount  and  remount  his  men  from  horses  picked  up  in 
the  country,  and  to  destroy  the  railroad  and  telegraph 
communication  with  Mobile  as  fully  as  practicable. 
The  expedition  on  this  trip  consisted  of  three  hundred 
and  fifty  mounted  men  and  one  piece  of  artillery,  and 
made  a  march  of  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles, 
passing  through  Kingston,  Liberty  and  Woodville. 
At  Liberty  seventeen  hogsheads  of  sugar,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  saddles,  one  artillery  carriage,  one  gov- 
ernment wagon  and  fifty  stands  of  small  arms  were 
destroyed.  At  Woodville  Major  Worden  struck  the 
railroad,  consigned  to  the  flames  a  large  cotton  factory 
containing  forty  looms,  used  in  the  manufacturing  of 
cloth  for  the  rebel  army,  fourteen  freight  and  two  pas- 
senger cars,  destroyed  two  railroad  locomotives,  two 
hundred  and  fifty  barrels  of  C.  S.  A.  molasses,  a  large 
amount  of  army  clothing,  and  captured  and  brought 
back  to  Natchez  one  rebel  lieutenant  and  nine 
enlisted  men ;  also  a  six-pounder  gun  of  French  manu- 
facture, said  to  have  been  used  by  General  Jackson 
at  New  Orleans. 

On  the  30th  of  July  information  was  received  by 
General   Eansom,  through  scouts   and   negroes   and 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  85 

others,  that  the  rebel  Logan,  with  a  mounted  force 
of  about  fifteen  hundred  strong,  was  moving  on 
Natchez,  and  would  strike  at  that  point  the  following 
morning.  Every  preparation  was,  therefore,  made  to 
receive  them.  At  about  sunrise  on  the  31st  the  rebels 
were  discovered  approaching  in  force  on  the  Wash- 
ington road.  General  Hansom's  pickets  had  been 
strengthened  sufficiently  to  check  their  advance ;  Ma- 
jor Worden  was  immediately  dispatched  with  his 
mounted  men  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  flanks,  par- 
ties of  videttes  were  sent  out  on  all  the  roads,  and  a 
regiment  of  infantry  and  a  section  of  artillery  were 
ordered  to  the  support  of  the  cavalry.  Skirmishing 
now  commenced  briskly,  and  the  rebels  fell  back  at 
our  approach.  Major  Worden  and  his  mounted  men 
continued  to  drive  them  slowly,  keeping  up  a  desul- 
tory fight  until  noon,  when  the  enemy  made  a  stand 
and  formed  a  line  of  battle  on  a  rise  of  ground  about 
eleven  miles  out  from  the  city.  The  Major's  force, 
which  had  left  the  infantry  near  Natchez,  being  two 
small  to  attack  the  enemy  in  his  position,  and  discov- 
ering an  attempt  being  made  to  turn  his  flank,  he  fell 
back  half  a  mile,  where  he  met  and  attacked  a  party 
of  one  hundred  men  who  had  been  sent  to  his  rear. 
These  he  routed,  and  took  one  lieutenant  and  sixteen 
men  prisoners.  He  then  fell  back  three  miles  farther, 
9 


86  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

took  good  position,  and  waited  several  hours  for  an 
attack.  No  farther  demonstrations  being  made  by 
the  enemy,  the  mounted  infantry  was  withdrawn,  and 
soon  afterward  returned  to  the  city.  In  this  affair 
Logan  lost  his  chief  of  cavalry,  Colonel  Powers,  fif- 
teen men  wounded,  and  forty-five  prisoners.  The 
Federals  did  not  lose  a  man,  and  had  only  two  slightly 
wounded. 

General  Eansom,  during  his  administration  at 
Natchez,  greatly  felt  the  need  of  more  cavalry  with 
which  he  might  pursue  and  fight  Logan.  The  tempo- 
rary mounted  force  organized  from  the  infantry,  was 
inadequate  to  meet  the  larger  force  of  Logan,  though 
it  always  rendered  a  good  account  of  itself  The 
general  applied  repeatedly  to  the  head-quarters  at 
Vicksburg  for  a  reenforcement  of  cavalry,  but  for 
some  reason  it  was  never  furnished  him.  To  use  his 
own  words,  in  a  report  to  Lieut  Col.  Wm.  T.  Clark, 
Asst  Adjt.  General  of  the  17th  Army  Corps,  "  It  is  a 
terrible  annoyance  to  have  this  vagabond  (Logan)  so 
near  me,  and  not  be  able  to  fight  him." 

The  brigade  remained  at  Natchez  until  the  middle 
of  October  following,  busily  employed  in  attending  to 
the  rebel  bands  infesting  that  vicinity,  collecting  the 
large  quantities  of  Confederate  States  cotton  found  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  preserving  good  order  and  re- 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  87 

storing  confidence  among  the  people.  Large  numbers 
of  negroes,  on  the  arrival  and  during  the  stay  of  the 
brigade  here,  flocked  into  the  camps  to  receive  pro- 
tection and  their  freedom  under  the  emancipation 
proclamation.  So  great  was  the  rush  made  by  this 
released  element  of  population,  that  the  general  com- 
manding was  obliged  to  establish  a  corral  for  them 
outside  the  city,  and  furnish  them  with  rations  pro- 
vided by  the  Government  The  citizens  of  the  place 
became  alarmed  at  the  consequences  which  might 
follow  from  the  sudden  liberation  of  the  race  which 
had  hitherto  been  held  in  subjection  by  them,  and  ap- 
pealed to  General  Ransom  for  protection  against  antici- 
pated but  groundless  dangers  from  this  source.  Nu- 
merous planters  sent  in  applications  for  the  negroes  to 
be  set  at  work  again  with  their  former  masters,  and 
gather  the  crops  then  maturing.  The  general  replied 
to  such,  that  the  design  of  the  army  was  solely  to 
crush  out  of  existence  an  armed  rebellion,  and  rees- 
tablish the  supremacy  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States ;  that  except  in  so  far  as  it  was  necessary  for  this 
purpose,  private  property  would  not  be  molested, 
unless  a  disposition  was  manifested  to  use  it  for  the 
benefit  of  the  armies  we  were  fighting ;  that  it  was  his 
wish  to  encourage,  by  all  the  means  in  his  power,  the 
peaceful  avocations  of  the  people,  to  have  the  laboring 


88  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

classes  remain  on  the  plantations,  and  cultivate  and 
harvest  the  growing  crops  ;  and  that  while  he  was  in 
duty  bound  to  recognize  and  encourage  the  freedom 
of  the  negroes,  every  inducement  would  be  held  out 
for  them  to  remain  where  they  were  and  work  for 
reasonable  wages.  The  negro  question  at  all  times 
during  the  progress  of  the  war,  was  an  annoying  sub- 
ject to  military  commanders,  in  endeavoring  to  carry 
out  the  policy  of  the  Government  in  reference  to  this 
matter.  General  Ransom  found  it  so  in  his  manage- 
ment of  affairs  at  Natchez.  The  line  of  duty  and  right 
was  plainly  marked  out,  however.  The  freedom  of 
the  negro  had  been  plainly  and  firmly  decreed  months 
since  by  the  President,  backed  up  by  the  Congress  and 
the  loyal  people  of  the  United  States.  It  was  too  late 
for  the  importunities  of  rebels  now  professing  devotion 
to  the  Union,  to  avail  anything  toward  reclaiming  to 
bondage  those  unfortunate  beings,  in  whom  they  had 
forfeited  every  right,  title  and  interest,  and  who,  ac- 
cording to  all  the  rights  of  war,  as  well  as  of  humanity, 
were  as  free  as  those  who  sought  to  reenslave  them. 
Gradually  the  planters  around  Natchez  became  recon- 
ciled to  the  altered  condition  of  labor  in  their  midst, 
employed  the  negroes  as  freedmen  toiling  for  compen- 
sation, and  accepted  the  new  policy  inaugurated  by  the 
commanding  officer,  as  a  consequence  of  that  rebellion 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  89 

which,  until  quite  recently,   they  had  ardently  sup- 
ported. 

Large  numbers  of  negroes  were  here  furnished  for 
the  various  regiments  of  colored  troops  which  at  this 
time  were  being  raised  at  Vicksburg  and  other  points. 
In  this  manner  their  acciimulation  on  the  hands  of  the 
military  commander  was  in  a  measure  avoided,  and 
the  freedmen  were  made  of  important  use  to  the 
Government 

While  the  Ninety -fifth  was  in  camp  at  Natchez, 
General  McArthur,  commanding  the  division,  paid  a 
visit  to  his  troops  at  this  post,  and,  on  invitation 
from  Colonel  Humphrey,  attended  a  dress  parade  of 
this  regiment.  The  colonel  had  duly  prepared  his 
men  for  such  exhibition,  and  by  constant  drill  had 
trained  them  to  proficiency  in  this  beautiful  military 
exercise.  He  caused  the  colors  to  be  escorted  to  and 
from  the  parade  ground  strictly  in  accordance  with  the 
tactics,  a  part  which  other  regiments  seldom  performed, 
but  which  always  adds  interest  to  the  parade,  and 
shows  a  due  respect  and  protection  for  the  flag  of  the 
Union  —  ever  to  be  defended  and  never  surrendered. 
The  general  expressed  himself  greatly  pleased  with 
the  appearance  of  the  regiment,  and  he  and  his  staff 
joined  in  the  opinion  that  they  had  never  witnessed 
a  more  perfect  dress  parade  during  the  service. 


90  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

A  Natchez  many  of  the  officers  and  enlisted  men 
obtained  leave  of  absence  and  furloughs,  and  im- 
proved the  opportunity  of  visiting  their  homes  in  the 
North.  After  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  General 
Grant  decided,  with  great  liberality  and  kindness,  that 
these  favors  should  be  extensively  granted  to  the  troops 
who  had  followed  him  through  the  recent  campaigns 
which  they  had  helped  him  crown  with  success.  As 
there  was  to  be  no  farther  general  campaign  in  the 
Southwest  during  the  fall,  most  of  the  soldiers  could 
enjoy  these  privileges  of  visiting  home  without  detri- 
ment to  the  service. 

About  the  middle  of  October,  1863,  the  brigade, 
(now  commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Thomas  K. 
Smith.)  was  ordered  from  Natchez  to  Vicksburg.  The 
regiment  remained  at  the  latter  place  during  the  fall 
and  winter,  assisting  in  constructing  the  Federal  forti- 
fications around  the  city,  and  performing  garrison, 
picket  and  other  duties.  It  had  now  been  in  the  ser- 
vice a  little  over  one  year,  and  had  become  greatly 
reduced  in  numbers  by  deaths  in  battle  and  from 
disease,  discharges,  and  transfers  to  other  commands. 
The  President,  during  the  same  fall,  called  for  three 
hundred  thousand  more  men  to  fill  up  the  depleted 
ranks  in  the  field,  and  recruiting  parties  were  sent 
North  by  the  different  regiments  for  this  purpose. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  91 

Early  in  November,  1863,  Captain  C.  B.  Loop,  of 
Company  "  B,"  Captain  James  Nish,  of  Company  "I," 
and  Captain  A.  S.  Stewart,  of  Company  "  A,"  accom- 
panied by  several  non-commissioned  officers,  were 
detailed  to  proceed  North  and  obtain  recruits  for  the 
Ninety -fifth.  They  forwarded  a  large  number  to  the 
regiment  during  the  same  winter,  filling  it  to  more 
than  a  minimum  number. 


92  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 


CHAPTER    V. 

Expeditions  from  Vicksburg  in  Spring  of  1 864  —  Sherman's  March 
to  Meridian  —  Colonel  Coates'  defense  of  Yazoo  City  —  The  Red 
River  Expedition  —  Taking  of  Fort  DeRussey  —  Ninety-fifth  de- 
tailed to  destroy  the  works  —  Arrival  at  Alexandria  —  March  to 
Grand  Ecore  —  Ascending  the  River  on  Transports  —  Battle  of 
Pleasant  Hill  —  Retreat  ordered  by  General  Banks  —  Return  of 
the  Fleet  —  Running  Batteries  at  Vandares  —  Ninety-fifth  as  Rear 
G-uard  of  Banks'  Array  —  Two  Days'  Fight  at  Clouterville  —  Re- 
treat to  Alexandria  —  Battle  of  Yellow  Bayou  —  Evacuation  of 
the  Red  River  Country — 'Return  of  the  Ninety-fifth  to  Vicks- 
burg. 

EARLY  in  the  spring  of  1864,  several  expeditions 
were  organized  at  Vicksburg  for  the  purpose  of  visiting 
certain  interior  sections  of  the  Confederacy,  where  the 
Federal  arms  had  not  yet  penetrated,  where  rebellion 
was  yet  defiant,  and  from  whence  it  continued  to 
receive  important  means  of  support  The  first  of 
these  was  organized  by  General  Sherman,  and  set  out 
from  Vicksburg  in  the  fore  part  of  February,  in  the 
direction  of  Montgomery,  Alabama.  It  consisted  of  the 
16th  Army  Corps,  under  Major  General  Hurlbut,  and 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  93 

the  17th,  commanded  by  Major  General  McPherson. 
Crossing  the  Big  Black  river  at  the  bridge,  this  force 
swept  on  toward  Jackson,  the  two  corps  taking  differ- 
ent roads.  The  enemy  were  found  in  position  three 
miles  out  from  Jackson,  and  were  attacked  and  routed 
by  the  advancing  Federal  columns.  The  army  crossed 
Pearl  river  upon  pontoons,  and  advanced  rapidly  as 
far  east  as  Meridian,  Mississippi,  where  important  rail- 
road communications,  arsenals  and  Confederate  stores 
were  successfully  destroyed. 

This  expedition  was  absent  about  twenty  days,  and 
having  accomplished  its  objects,  returned  to  Yicksburg 
in  the  latter  part  of  February. 

General  Sherman,  prior  to  leaving  Yicksburg  on 
the  Meridian  "  raid,"  sent  Colonel  James  H.  Coates 
with  the  Eleventh  Illinois,  a  colored  regiment,  and  a 
small  force  of  cavalry,  up  the  Yazoo  valley,  with  or- 
ders to  proceed  cautiously  and  attract  the  attention  of 
a  force  of  rebel  cavalry  known  to  be  in  that  vicinity 
watching  the  movements  going  on  at  Vicksburg.  This 
cavalry  was  under  Eoss  and  Eichardson,  and  they  in- 
tended to  make  a  dash  upon  the  lengthy  wagon  train 
of  General  Sherman's  army.  It  was  Colonel  Coates' 
mission  to  divert  their  attention,  and  prevent  the 
consummation  of  their  object.  Ascending  the  Yazoo 
with  his  small  command,  to  Sartatia,  he  here  encoun- 


94  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

tered  the  enemy  in  force,  immediately  landed  his  troops 
and  gave  battle.  Aided  by  the  gunboat  which  accom- 
panied the  expedition,  the  enemy  was  quickly  driven 
back  and  put  to  flight. 

The  troops  then  reembarked  upon  the  transports 
and  proceeded  up  the  river  to  Yazoo  City  without 
farther  molestation.  Colonel  Coates  had  orders  to 
continue  his  expedition  as  far  as  Greenville,  some 
miles  above  on  the  river,  in  case  the  enemy  did  not 
appear  in  too  strong  force.  He  arrived  there  without 
serious  interruption,  and  afterward  completely  de- 
stroyed the  works  of  Fort  Pemberton,  a  strong  posi- 
tion at  the  confluence  of  the  Tallahatchie  and  Yazoo 
rivers.  He  subsequently  returned  down  the  river  to 
Yazoo  City,  collected  a  large  quantity  of  Confederate 
cotton  in  this  vicinity,  and  forwarded  the  same 
to  the  proper  authorities  at  Vicksburg.  On  the  6th 
day  of  March,  while  at  this  post,  he  was  attacked  by  the 
mounted  forces  under  Generals  Eoss  and  Eichardson, 
consisting  of  seven  regiments,  and  numbering  three  or 
four  thousand  strong.  The  rebels  dashed  in  suddenly 
on  the  Ben  ton  road,  and  attempted  to  take  the  place  by 
surprise.  Colonel  Coates  having  disposed  his  small 
force  to  receive  them  warmly,  determined  to  hold  the 
place  at  all  hazards.  A  portion  of  the  Eleventh 
Illinois,  commanded  by  Major  McKee,  occupied  the  fort 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  95 

on  the  hill  near  the  Benton  road,  upon  which  the  enemy 
charged  repeatedly,  but  each  time  were  repulsed  with 
great  slaughter.  The  fighting  became  general  all 
around  and  in  the  city,  and  raged  furiously  through 
the  principal  streets.  For  a  time  it  seemed  as  if  the 
superior  forces  of  the  enemy,  as  they  swarmed  in  from 
all  points,  would  capture  the  entire  garrison,  and, 
indeed,  a  report  of  that  nature  was  carried  to  Major 
General  McPherson,  at  Yicksburg.  But  it  turned  out 
otherwise.  General  Ross  forwarded,  under  flag  of 
truce,  a  note  to  Colonel  Coates,  stating  that  the  latter 
could  not  expect  to  hold  out  against  such  superior 
odds,  and  asked  him  to  surrender,  and  spare  farther 
effusion  of  blood.  Coates  sent  word  back  that  he  had 
no  idea  of  capitulating,  and  that  he  intended  to  hold 
the  place  till  the  last.  One  of  the  rebel  commanders 
sent  a  dispatch  to  Major  McKee,  in  command  at  the 
fort,  asking  him  to  surrender,  and  that  in  case  he 
refused,  no  quarter  would  be  granted  him.  McKee, 
fired  to  anger  by  the  insulting  request,  made  the 
following  characteristic  reply :  "  I  don't  scare  worth 
a  damn.  We  are  ready  for  you." 

The  fight  was  continued  with  desperation  on  both 
sides  all  day  long,  until  finally  the  Confederates  gave 
up  the  contest,  and  leaving  behind  a  large  number  of 
killed  and  wounded,  retreated  on  the  road  toward 


96  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Benton.  The  Federal  loss  was  quite  light,  considering 
the  forces  engaged.  Of  course,  in  the  exhausted  condi- 
tion of  his  troops,  Colonel  Coates  was  unable  to  pursue 
the  enemy,  and  contented  himself  with  what  had  been 
accomplished  during  the  day.  He  soon  afterward 
received  orders  to  return  to  Vicksburg  with  his  com- 
mand, and  arrived  there  about  the  time  trie  Eed  river 
expedition  was  setting  out. 

I  have  been  thus  particular  in  giving  an  account  of 
this  successful  expedition,  because  it  was  principally 
performed  by  the  Eleventh  Illinois,  with  which  the 
Ninety-fifth  was  then  brigaded,  and  had  been  inti- 
mately and  pleasantly  associated  since  entering  the 
service.  As  auxiliary  to  the  main  operations  of  Gene- 
ral Sherman  at  that  time,  it  may  be  said  to  have  been 
really  the  only  brilliant  affair  that  occurred  during  the 
whole  movement.  In  its  management,  Colonel  Coates 
had  proven  himself  a  brave  and  efficient  officer,  and 
every  way  worthy  to  command  in  times  of  emergency. 
By  his  gallant  conduct  and  meritorious  service  at 
Y azoo  City,  he  was  well  entitled  to  a  star  from  the  hands 
of  the  Government.  Through  a  sensitive  modesty, 
however,  which  prevented  him  from  pushing  his  claims, 
this  was  not  accorded  him  until  long  afterward,  near 
the  close  of  the  rebellion,  when  he  was  brevetted  a 
brigadier  general.  The  Ninety-fifth  did  not  accom- 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  97 

pany  these  expeditions,  as  the  brigade  to  which  it  was 
attached,  with  the  exception  of  the  Eleventh  Illinois, 
received  orders  to  remain  and  garrison  Vicksburg 
during  the  absence  of  the  main  army.  At  this  time 
the  brigade  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Malloy,  of  the 
17th  Wisconsin.  Shortly  after  these  events,  an  expe- 
dition in  aid  of  a  similar  one,  preparing  under  General 
Banks,  at  New  Orleans,  for  the  purpose  of  ascending 
the  Red  river,  was  organized  at  Vicksburg.  Forces 
were  selected  for  this  object  from  the  16th  and  17th 
Army  Corps,  two  divisions  being  detached  from  the 
former,  and  one,  under  command  of  Brigadier  Thomas 
Kilby  Smith,  from  the  latter.  The  whole  force,  from 
both  corps,  had  for  its  commander  then  Brigadier 
General  A.  J.  Smith. 

The  Ninety-fifth  was  temporarily  detached  from  the 
2nd  Brigade,  17th  Army  Corps,  and  assigned  to  a 
brigade  made  up  for  the  Red  River  expedition,  con- 
sisting of  the  14th  Wisconsin,  81st  and  95th  Illinois, 
and  commanded  by  Colonel  L.  M.  Ward.  These 
troops,  thus  organized,  embarked  at  Vicksburg  on  the 
9th  day  of  March,  1865.  The  Ninety-fifth  went 
aboard  the  steamer  "  John  Raines,"  and  on  the  tenth 
the  whole  command  moved  down  the  river,  arriving  at 
the  mouth  of  Red  river  on  the  llth.  The  army 
under  General  Banks  had  not  yet  arrived  from  New 


98  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Orleans,  and  General  Smith,  on  the  12th,  proceeded 
up  Red  river  with  his  own  force. 

Having  ascended  twenty  miles,  a  landing  was  made 
at  Simsport,  near  Atchfalaya  Pass,  and  the  Ninety- 
fifth  took  part  in  the  skirmish  which  ensued  at  that 
place,  driving  back  the  enemy.  The  march  was  com- 
menced from  this  place  at  9  o'clock  P.  M.,  on  the 
evening  of  the  13th,  and  continued  until  3  A.  JL,  the 
following  morning,  in  the  direction  of  Fort  DeRussey, 
where  General  Smith's  force  arrived  on  the  14th, 
attacked  and  captured  the  stronghold,  and  took  three 
hundred  prisoners.  On  the  16th,  the  Ninety-fifth  was 
assigned  the  task  of  destroying  the  well-constructed 
fortifications  at  this  place,  and  under  the  especial 
superintendence  of  Colonel  Humphrey  the  work  was 
rapidly  and  effectually  performed.  The  following  is 
an  extract  from  Colonel  Humphrey's  report  in  refer- 
ence to  the  same : 

"  The  works  were  very  formidable,  being  by  far  the 
most  scientifically  and  permanently  constructed  works 
of  the  enemy  I  have  seen,  and  with  our  limited  appli- 
ances, very  difficult  of  destruction.  The  interior  slope 
of  the  main  redoubt,  covering  an  area  of  about  ten 
thousand  five  hundred  square  yards,  was  wholly 
revetted  with  heavy  (fourteen  inch)  square  timber, 
firmly  pinned  upon  each  other,  morticed  and  tenanted 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  99 

at  the  angles.  These,  with  great  labor,  were  wedged 
off  one  by  one,  pulled  down  with  ropes,  and  piled  for 
burning.  All  this  was  accomplished  at  5  o'clock 
p.  M.,  (16th  inst),  and  as  my  orders  were  to  burn 
nothing  until  farther  orders,  I  complimented  my  com- 
mand for  the  zeal  with  which  they  had  worked,  and 
the  success  of  their  labor,  and  marched  them  back  to 
the  brigade  camp,  distant  only  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  from  the  fort 

"  At  seven  o'clock  p.  M.,  I  was  notified  that  the 
magazines,  (three  of  them  within  the  main  redoubt), 
one  of  them  containing  about  fifty  kegs  and  barrels  of 
powder,  would  be  exploded  at  eight  o'clock.  I  was 
ordered  to  embark  my  transportation,  and  immediately 
after  the  explosion,  to  burn  the  timber  I  had  pre- 
viously prepared  for  that  purpose,  and  be  ready  to 
embark  my  men  at  an  early  hour.  I  received  no  orders 
to  move  my  command  to  a  place  of  greater  safety,  and 
did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  leave  my  position  in  the 
brigade  without  farther  orders.  My  company  com- 
manders were  notified  of  the  danger,  and  the  men  fell 
back  from  one  to  two  hundred  yards,  availing  them- 
selves of  such  protection  as  they  could  find.  One  and 
two  hours  passed  beyond  the  appointed  time,  and  the 
explosion  did  not  take  place.-  The  night  was  cold, 
and  the  men  weary  from  their  day's  work  ;  one  by 


100  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

one,  many  of  them  resought  their  bunks  and  bivouac 
fires,  when,  at  about  half  past  ten  o'clock,  the  magazines 
blew  up  with  a  terrific  explosion,  sinking  the  earth 
beneath  one's  feet,  and  filling  the  air,  for  hundreds  of 
yards,  with  timbers,  huge  lumps  of  hard,  red  clay, 
and  other  dangerous  missiles.  Samuel  Snyder,  of 
Company  "  A,"  had  his  left  leg  broken  by  a  lump  of 
clay,  so  as  to  require  amputation  above  the  knee,  and 
is  not  expected  to  live.  Lieutenant  John  D.  Abbe, 
Company  "  K,"  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  face, — 
also  several  others,  while  many  narrowly  escaped 
death.  Soon  after  the  explosion  of  the  magazine,  an 
iron  field-piece,  situated  in  the  west  part  of  the  fort, 
bursted,  scattering  fragments  of  the  gun  through  the 
brigade  camp,  killing,  among  others  in  the  brigade, 
private  Samuel  Jackson,  Company  "C,"  of  my 
regiment 

"  About  twelve  o'clock  P.  M.,  I  proceeded  to  burn 
the  piled  timbers,  which  left  the  fortifications  in  ruins, 
and  as  thoroughly  destroyed  as  possible  within  such  a 
limited  time." 

On  the  17th  day  of  March  the  regiment  reembarked 
at  Gordon's  Landing,  near  the  fort,  and  proceeded  up 
the  river,  sixty  miles,  arriving  at  Alexandria  the  same 
evening.  On  the  18th,  it  disembarked  at  Pineville,  on 
the  right  hand  side  of  the  river,  and  marched  out 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  101 

twelve  miles  on  a  foraging  expedition,  returning  the 
same  day.  On  the  25th,  Companies  "G"and"D," 
of  the  Ninety-fifth,  were  detailed  as  guard  over  pris- 
oners, and  started  with  them  the  same  day  for  New 
Orleans,  on  the  steamer  "Meteor."  The  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps,  commanded  by  General  Franklin,  having 
now  arrived  at  Alexandria,  from  below,  the  whole 
army,  provided  with  three  days'  rations,  moved  for- 
ward on  the  26th,  along  Bayou  Kupee,  and  on  the 
following  day  arrived  at  Bayou  Cotille,  where  the  regi- 
ment remained  until  April  1st  Companies  "G"  and 
"D  "  having  delivered  their  prisoners  to  the  authori- 
ties at  New  Orleans,  returned  to  this  place  and  rejoined 
the  regiment 

On  the  4th  of  April  the  army  reached  Grand  Ecore, 
and  from  here  the  13th  and  19th  corps,  and  a  large 
portion  of  General  A.  J.  Smith's  command,  immedi- 
ately marched  up  the  river  in  the  direction  of  Shreves- 
port,  to  meet  the  enemy,  while  the  division  of  the  17th 
Army  Corps,  under  General  Kilby  Smith,  ascended 
the  river  on  transports,  loaded  with  supplies  for 
General  Banks'  army. 

Prior  to  the  general  movement  of  the  boats,  at  this 
time,  the  Ninety -fifth  was  sent  on  a  scouting  expedition 
a  few  miles  up  the  river,  a  small  force  of  rebels  hold- 
ing position  on  the  shore  being  reported  in  the  vicinit}-. 
10 


102  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Embarking  on  the  steamer  "  Universe,"  it  moved  up 
to  a  small  town  by  the  name  of  Campte,  arriving  about 
noon,  April  5th.  The  regiment  here  disembarked, 
and,  provided  with  one  day's  rations  in  haversacks, 
marched  into  the  country.  After  advancing  two  or 
three  miles,  information  was  received  that  the  enemy 
had  retreated,  and  the  troops  then  countermarched  to 
the  steamer,  and  soon  rejoined  the  fleet  lying  near 
Grand  Ecore.  On  the  8th  of  April,  the  whole  fleet 
of  transports  commenced  moving  up  the  river  from 
Grand  Ecore,  to  cooperate  with  the  land  forces.  The 
Ninety-fifth  was  arranged  on  the  various  steamers  as 
follows :  Companies  "  B,"  "  E,"  "  G,"  "  H,"  "  I "  and 
"  K,"  occupied  the  "  Sioux  City,"  and  Companies  "  B  " 
and  "  G,"  were  detailed  as  sharpshooters.  Company 
"A"  was  placed  as  guard  on  the  "Black  Hawk," 
General  Banks'  head-quarters  boat ;  "  F  "  on  the 
"Hastings,"  General  Kilby  Smith's  head-quarters; 
"  C  "  on  the  "  Meteor,"  and  "  D  "  on  the  "  Shreveport" 
The  fleet  had  ascended  some  seventy  miles  above 
Grand  Ecore  without  much  hindrance,  except  occa- 
sional firing  from  the  river  banks,  when,  on  the  10th, 
intelligence  was  brought  through  by  an  orderly  that 
General  Banks'  army  had  been  defeated  at  "  Pleasant 
Hill,"  and  was  then  retreating  on  Grand  Ecore.  A 
speedy  return  of  the  fleet  down  the  river  was  ordered, 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  103 

and  was  necessary  for  its  salvation.  Already  the 
rebels  had  erected  batteries  below,  with  the  design  of 
entrapping  the  returning  transports,  and  on  the  12th 
and  13th  of  April,  the  Ninety-fifth  took  active  part  in 
successively  passing  them,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artil- 
lery and  musketry.  Colonel  Humphrey,  in  his  report 
of  that  portion  of  the  expedition,  says :  "  On  April 
thirteenth,  at  one  o'clock  p.  M.,  I  ran  a  gauntlet  of  a 
four-gun  battery  (12  pounders,)  well  posted,  and  mus- 
ketry. The  shots  were  fired  at  the  pilot-house  '  Sioux 
City,'  with  great  precision,  the  first  grazing  the  hurri- 
cane deck  j  ust  forward  of  the  pilot-house,  demolishing 
at  that  point  my  breastworks  of  hard  bread,  wounding 
slightly  First  Sergeant  William  Andrews,  of  Company 
'  E,'  and  another  soldier.  The  balance  of  the  shells 
missed  the  pilot-house  but  a  few  feet,  and  exploded 
with  great  precision.  I  had  taken  the  precaution  to 
fortify  my  decks  as  much  as  possible  with  hay,  hard 
bread,  and  every  available  article,  so  that  my  men 
were  quite  well  protected  from  musketry,  to  which 
precaution,  and  the  admirable  coolness  with  which  my 
sharpshooters  played  upon  the  enemy,  I  attribute,  in  a 
great  measure,  my  escape  with  so  little  loss." 

The  regiment  reached  Grand  Ecore  on  the  14th 
and  15th  of  April,  having  had  one  killed  and  eleven 
wounded  on  the  passage  down.  It  remained  here 


104:  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

in  camp  until  the  20th,  when  the  retreat  was  resumed 
by  the  army,  the  Ninety-fifth  forming  the  rear- 
guard, and  expecting  an  attack  at  any  moment  by  the 
pursuing  enemy,  now  flushed  and  emboldened  by  his 
recent  successes.  The  line  of  retreat  was  on  the 
Nachitoches  road.  On  the  22nd,  a  few  hours  after 
leaving  the  city  of  Nachitoches,  three  thousand  rebels 
attacked  the  rear  of  General  Banks'  army,  then 
guarded  by  Colonel  Ward's  brigade.  The  Ninety-fifth 
being  the  rear  regiment,  was  the  first  to  form  in  line  of 
battle  aud  receive  the  attack.  An  hour's  fight  ensued, 
in  which  the  enemy  was  driven  back  in  confusion.  In 
this  engagement,  Sergeant  Caleb  Cornwell,  of  Com- 
pany "  K,"  was  killed  by  a  ball  passing  through  his 
head,  and  he  was  buried  on  the  following  day  at 
Clouterville.  Near  this  place,  on  the  23rd,  while  the 
Ninety -fifth  still  held  the  rear,  the  rebels  again  came 
up  and  opened  with  three  pieces  of  artillery.  Colonel 
Ward's  entire  brigade  immediately  formed  in  line  of 
battle,  and  engaged  in  a  furious  conflict  which  lasted 
two  hours.  Here,  too,  the  rebels  were  handsomely 
repulsed.  On  the  same  day  the  Federal  army  was 
attacked  in  front,  resulting  in  complete  defeat  to  the 
enemy.  At  night  the  regiment  bivouacked,  after  a 
short  march,  and  at  an  early  hour  on  the  following 
morning  the  Union  camps  were  aroused  by  the  enemy's 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRT  VOLUNTEERS.  105 

shells  from  the  rear.  In  this  action  the  Ninety -fifth 
took  an  important  part,  and  the  attacking  force  was 
driven  back  with  heavy  loss.  The  army  arrived  at 
Alexandria  on  the  28th  of  April,  having  been  con- 
stantly harassed  by  the  enemy. 

At  this  place  a  halt  was  made  for  several  days, 
while  the  gunboats  and  transports  could  be  passed 
below  the  falls.  Since  the  army  had  been  absent  on 
the  expedition,  the  river  had  fallen  so  much  that  it 
became  necessary  to  build  a  dam  and  float  the  boats 
over  this  difficult  place  in  the  river.  Meanwhile  the 
enemy  was  active,  and  threatening  attack  on  every 
side,  but  our  land  forces  were  so  disposed  as  to  hold 
them  in  check  until  the  safety  of  the  steamers  could 
be  secured.  The  Ninety-fifth,  with  other  troops,  was 
sent  out  to  Governor  More's  plantation,  and  remained 
there  several  days,  watching  the  movements  of  the 
enemy,  and  preventing  his  advance. 

By  the  14th  day  of  May  the  gunboats  and  trans- 
ports had  successfully  passed  over  the  falls.  Alexan- 
dria was  evacuated,  a  large  quantity  of  cotton,  which 
cotton  speculators  had  gathered  in  there,  was  burned, 
including  a  portion  of  the  city  itself,  and  the  whole 
army  again  resumed  the  retreat.  On  the  15th,  at  dark, 
the  Ninety -fifth  arrived  at  Fort  DeKussey,  and  passed 
on  fifteen  miles  farther.  Sharp  skirmishing  took  place 


106  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

at  Marksville,  and  an  important  artillery  duel  occurred 
at  Mansouri,  in  which  the  rebels  were  badly  worsted. 
On  the  16th,  the  enemy  offered  battle  in  front,  and  as 
usual,  was  repulsed,  and  on  the  17th  he  was  again  de- 
feated in  an  attack  on  the  rear  of  the  Federal  army, 
then  held  by  General  Mower's  division,  of  the  16th 
Army  Corps.  On  the  18th,  occurred  the  hard-fought 
battle  of  Yellow  Bayou,  in  which  the  rebels  fought 
desperately,  but  were  everywhere  overwhelmed  with 
defeat,  losing  three  hundred  prisoners  and  many  killed 
and  wounded.  The  16th  corps  was  hotly  engaged, 
and  the  Ninety -fifth  fought  during  a  portion  of  the 
time  under  one  of  the  severest  fires  of  artillery  it  ever 
experienced  in  a  field  fight  Fortunately,  however,  the 
regiment  was  so  near  to  the  enemy's  batteries  that 
most  of  their  shot  and  shell  passed  over  the  men 
without  injuring  them.  The  Federal  loss  was  heavy, 
and  several  of  the  regiments  (among  them  the  58th 
Illinois,)  were  badly  cut  to  pieces.  After  this  severe 
contest,  in  which  the  enemy  was  well  punished,  the 
forces  under  General  Banks  met  with  no  farther  hin- 
drance of  importance,  in  evacuating  the  country,  and 
reached  the  mouth  of  Eed  river  on  the  21st  day  of 
May,  1864 

Thus  ended,  ingloriously,  the  great,  expensive  and 
fruitless  attempt  to  penetrate  to  the  head- waters  of  the 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  107 

Red  river.  Not  inglorious  for  the  troops  composing 
the  expedition,  for  they  at  all  times  performed  their 
whole  duty,  and  even  after  the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill, 
stood  ready  to  fight  their  way  to  Shreveport,  and 
would  certainly  have  done  so,  had  they  been  com- 
manded to  that  effect,  and  led  in  that  direction. 
General  A.  J.  Smith,  the  brave  leader  of  the  16th 
Army  Corps,  confident  of  whipping  the  enemy  and 
reaching  Shreveport,  desired  not  to  give  up  the  con- 
test in  that  manner ;  but  the  disheartened  commanding 
officer  of  the  army,  supposing  his  forces  had  met  with 
great  defeat,  and  fearing  they  would  be  annihilated  by 
a  farther  prosecution  of  his  undertaking,  decided  to 
abandon  the  expedition,  and  ordered  the  long  and 
tedious  retreat  to  the  Mississippi.  It  is  a  well-known 
fact  that  both  armies,  supposing  themselves  defeated, 
retreated  about  the  same  time,  and  equal  distances 
from  the  battle  field  of  Pleasant  Hill,  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  each  party  sent  in  flags  of  truce  for  the 
purpose  of  burying  their  dead  —  each  expecting  to  find 
the  other  occupying  and  holding  the  ground  where 
the  battle  had  raged.  It  was  in  truth  no  more  a  defeat 
for  the  Federals  than  the  rebels,  and  it  was  a  general 
belief  in  the  army  that  a  few  more  days  of  persever- 
ance would  have  placed  the  great  object  of  the  expe- 
dition in  possession  of  the  Union  troops.  The  order 


108  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

to  retreat  was  imperative,  however,   but  was  obeyed 
with,  feelings  of  reluctance  and  disappointment 

On  the  22nd  of  April,  the  Ninety-fifth  embarked 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Red  river  upon  the  steamer  "  Gol- 
den Era,"  sailed  up  the  Mississippi,  and  reached 
Yicksburg  on  the  23rd.  When  the  regiment  left  this 
place,  in  March  previous,  it  was  well  understood  and 
so  expressed  in  the  orders,  that  it  was  only  temporarily 
detached  from  the  17th  Army  Corps,  then  encamped 
there,  and  after  the  completion  of  the  Red  River  expe- 
dition, which  was  originally  intended  to  take  twenty 
days,  it  was  expected  to  rejoin  the  command  at  Yicks- 
burg, where  it  properly  belonged.  The  most  of  that 
corps  had,  meanwhile,  been  ordered  up  the  river  to 
Cairo,  and  had  moved  forward  to  take  part  in  the 
Georgia  campaign,  then  about  opening.  The  detach- 
ment, camp  and  garrison  equipage  and  baggage  of 
the  Ninety-fifth,  which  had  been  left  at  Vicksburg, 
was  also  taken  in  the  same  direction,  though  it  was 
known  that  the  regiment  was  to  return  soon  to  that 
place.  The  brigade  to  which  it  legitimately  belonged 
was  still  at  Vicksburg  on  its  arrival,  but  it  was  no  longer 
considered  as  belonging  to  the  command  from  which 
it  had  been  loaned  for  the  time  being,  and  for  some 
reason,  through  orders  never  explained,  it  was  sent  to 
Memphis,  Tenn. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  109 


CHAPTEE   VI. 

Arrival  of  the  Regiment  at  Memphis  —  Assigned  to  General  Sturgis' 
Expedition  —  March  from  Memphis  —  Battle  of  G-untown,  Miss. 

—  Colonel  Humphrey  killed  —  Captain  Stewart  takes  command  , 
and  is  severely  wounded  —  Death  of  Captain  Bush  —  Command 
taken  by  Captain  Schellenger  —  The  Regiment  fight  with  despe- 
ration —  Ammunition  giving  out  —  Absence  of  Commanding  Offi  • 
cers  —  Ninety- fifth  fall  back,  after  a  long  conflict  against  superior 
odds  —  Form  second  Hue  of  battle  —  Final  Retreat  on  Memphis 

—  Hardships  —  Arrival  of  the  Regiment  back  to  Memphis  in  de- 
plorable condition  —  Comments  on  the  G-untown  affair. 

THE  regiment  arrived  at  Memphis  in  the  latter  part 
of  May,  1864,  just  in  time  to  be  assigned  to  the  ill- 
fated  and  disastrous  expedition  under  General  Sturgis, 
which,  early  in  June,  set  out  from  that  point  to  meet 
the  rebel  General  Forrest,  who  was  then  operating  ex- 
tensively in  Northern  Mississippi.  The  Ninety-fifth 
was  placed  in  a  brigade  with  the  81st  and  113th  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  and  the  troops  left  Memphis  June  1st, 
taking  the  cars  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  rail- 
road, to  the  twenty-sixth  mile  post,  where  they  camped 
the  same  night  The  line  of  march  was  afterward 
11 


110  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

through  Lafayette,  Lamar  Station,  on  the  Mississippi 
Central  Railroad,  Salem,  Miss.,  and  Ripley,  where  the 
expedition  arrived  on  the  9th.  The  weather  was  ex- 
cessively hot,  and  rapid  marching  beneath  such  a  sun 

111  prepared  the  men  for  a  sudden  fight     On  the  10th, 
Sturgis'  cavalry  had  advanced  several  miles  ahead  of 
his  infantry  column,  and  brought   on  an  engagement 
before  they  could  be   easily  supported.     Word  soon 
came  back  to  the  infantry,  then  five  or  six  miles  dis- 
tant, to  advance  on  the  double-quick  and  support  the 
cavalry.     Colonel  Humphrey,   knowing  that  his  men 
were  already  greatly   fatigued,  and  desiring   to  bring 
them  into  action  in  as  good  and  efficient  condition  as 
possible,  would   not  double-quick  his   command,  but 
pressed  forward  on   a   quick  march.     The  regiment 
hastened  on  to  the  scene  of  conflict,  now  raging  furi- 
ously at  the  front ;  numbers  of  the  men,  overcome  by 
heat  and  fatigue,  fell  out  by  the   roadside,  while  the 
large   majority  of  them,  though  well  nigh  exhausted, 
and  unfit  to  perform  what,  under  better  circumstances 
they  would  have   accomplished,  even  in  the    unequal 
contest  before  them,  still  held  their  position  in  the 
ranks,  and  came  up  bravely  to  form  their  first  line 
of  battle. 

The  battle  occurred  near  Guntown,  Mississippi,  and 
the  position  of  the  Ninety-fifth  in  the  line  formed  was 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  Ill 

an  important  one,  and  was  held  obstinately  for  a  long 
time  by  the  regiment  In  the  early  part  of  the  action, 
Colonel  Humphrey,  while  leading  on  his  men,  fell,  mor- 
tally wounded,  and  the  command  devolved  upon  Cap- 
tain Wm.  H.  Stewart,  Company  "  F,"  next  in  rank 
present  He  had  charge  but  a  short  time  before 
receiving  a  severe  wound  through  both  thighs,  and  was 
carried  helpless  from  the  field.  Captain  E.  N.  Bush,  of 
Company  "  G,"  then  assumed  command,  and  shortly  he, 
too,  was  stricken  down  and  counted  among  the  fallen 
and  killed.  Then  Captain  Schellenger,  of  Company 
"  K,"  was  called  to  the  command  of  the  gallant  band, 
and  though  their  brave  colonel  and  other  commanders 
had  fallen,  one  after  another,  yet  the  fight  was  con- 
tinued with  indescribable  desperation.  Meanwhile 
the  enlisted  men,  as  well  as  officers,  were  falling  thick 
and  fast  from  right  to  left  of  the  regimental  line ;  the 
ammunition  was  fast  giving  out,  and  none  arrived  from 
the  rear  to  replete  the  empty  cartridge-boxes.  Neither 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  troops,  nor  staff  officers, 
appeared  at  the  front,  directing  movements  or  bringing 
reinforcements  to  assist  and  strengthen  the  faltering 
Federal  lines.  They  were  not  there  to  encourage  or 
to  share  in  the  terrible  fatalities  of  that  eventful  day. 
The  enemy  was,  meanwhile,  being  reenforced,  and 
with  deadly  volleys  sorely  pressed  and  harassed  the 


112  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

unsupported  and  now  trembling  Union  ranks,  which 
for  hours  had  stood  boldly  facing  the  leaden  shower 
and  fierce  artillery.  Finally,  both  flanks  of  the  regi- 
ment were  turned  by  overpowering  numbers  of  the 
enemy,  and  it  was  obliged  to  fall  back,  or  suffer  entire 
capture.  Determined,  however,  not  to  give  up  the 
contest  until  the  last  moment,  it  took  position  again 
near  some  artillery  a  short  distance  in  the  rear,  here 
formed  its  second  line  of  battle,  and  withstood  for  a 
time  the  vigorous  assaults  of  the  rebels,  now  advancing 
rapidly,  and  flushed  with  the  certainty  of  victory. 
Soon  afterward  a  general  and  hasty  retreat  was  ordered 
by  Sturgis,  and  his  whole  army,  infantry,  cavalry  and 
artillery,  fled  precipitately  in  the  direction  of  Mem- 
phis ;  he  and  a  large  portion  of  his  cavalry  being  far 
in  advance  of  all,  leaving  the  scattered  organizations 
of  infantry  and  artillery  to  effect  their  escape  in  the 
best  way  they  could. 

The  enemy,  victorious  at  all  points,  lost  no  time  in 
pursuit  of  the  routed  and  demoralized  Union  troops, 
pressing  them  vigorously  on  all  sides,  capturing  a  large 
amount  of  our  artillery,  and  taking  many  of  the  dis- 
organized army  prisoners.  The  remnant  of  the  Ninety- 
fifth  was  led  back  to  Memphis  by  Captain  Schellenger, 
but  amid  the  excitement  and  confusion  which  pre- 
vailed, a  return  as  a  regimental  organization  was  im- 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  113 

possible,  and  each  man  looked  out  particularly  for 
himsel£  Great  credit  is  due  to  Captain  Schellenger 
for  the  able  manner  in  which  he  conducted  the  retreat. 
On  the  llth,  12th  and  13th  days  of  June,  and  the 
nights  of  those  days,  the  surviving  and  uncaptured 
men  of  the  regiment  made  lengthy  and  rapid  strides 
toward  the  city  of  Memphis,  and  evaded  successfully 
the  vigilance  and  grasp  of  the  pursuers.  When  the 
knapsack  became  too  onerous,  the  men  unslung  and 
abandoned  it,  and  around  many  a  tree  did  they  bend 
and  break  their  faithful  guns,  to  prevent  capture  both 
of  themselves  and  fire  arms  by  the  enemy.  Finally, 
on  the  13th,  the  fragment  of  the  regiment,  under 
Captain  Schellenger,  worn  out  and  nearly  famished, 
succeeded  in  reaching  Memphis.  For  days  afterward, 
however,  a  few  kept  straggling  in,  all  in  most  de- 
plorable condition. 

Colonel  Humphrey's  body  was  brought  off  from  the 
field  while  the  fight  was  progressing,  and  Surgeon 
Green  succeeded  in  bringing  it  through  to  Memphis  in 
a  buggy  obtained  at  Salem.  That  of  Captain  B.  N. 
Bush  was  not  found,  and  remained  on  the  field,  to- 
gether with  the  most  of  those  who  fell  during  the 
engagement.  The  regiment  had  never  before  expe- 
rienced such  disaster  as  had  recently  overwhelmed  it 
Their  gallant  leader  had  been  taken  away,  many  valu- 


114  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

able  officers  and  men  had  been  killed,  wounded  and 
taken  prisoners,  and  the  consequent  demoralization  was 
necessarily  so  great  that  the  organization  became  for  a 
time  well  nigh  annihilated. 

The  battle  of  Guntown,  and  the  defeat,  rout  and  sub- 
sequent flight  of  the  Federal  army,  will  stand  forth  in 
the  history  of  the  rebellion  as  one  of  the  most  shameful 
exhibitions  of  generalship  on  record.  Bravery  on  the 
part  of  our  troops  was  not  wanting,  nor  were  they 
in  any  manner  to  blame  for  the  failure.  They  were 
veterans  who  had  participated  in  the  memorable 
charges  on  the  19th  and  22nd  of  May,  1862,  at  Vicks- 
burg,  in  the  long  seige  which  ensued,  and  in  the 
various  battles  fought  during  the  Red  River  expedition. 
They  had  never  before  known  defeat,  under  some  of 
the  most  trying  circumstances  experienced  during  the 
whole  war.  The  true  cause  of  the  great  misfortune 
was  plainly  incompetency  and  lack  of  courage  on  the 
part  of  one  who  should  have  been  the  leading  spirit 
of  the  occasion.  When  the  important  crisis  of  battle 
came,  which  demanded  his  counsel,  presence  and 
action,  he  was  nowhere  to  be  found  near  the  front, 
where  the  fierce  contest  raged,  and  for  a  time  fluctu- 
ated with  doubtful  signs  of  success  to  either  side. 
Without  orders,  and  without  the  means  of  prosecuting 
the  fight,  the  valiant  troops  held  out  until  the  last 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  115 

moment,  and  fell  back  only  when  impending  ruin  was 
about  to  overwhelm  the  Union  army.  They  performed 
their  whole  duty,  and  could  not  accomplish  impos  - 
sibilities. 

After  the  return  of  the  regiment  to  Memphis,  the 
remains  of  Colonel  Humphrey  were  taken  North  to 
his  family,  where  appropriate  funeral  services  were 
held,  under  the  direction  of  the  Masonic  Order.  A 
very  large  concourse  of  people  assembled  from  the 
surrounding  country,  and  attended  the  corpse  to  the 
burial  place  selected  for  its  reception,  near  his  prairie 
home.  Beneath  the  green  sod  of  his  own  beautiful 
homestead,  under  the  cool  shades  of  the  tall  walnut 
trees  he  so  much  admired,  and  near  to  the  wife  and 
children  of  his  heart,  they  laid  away  in  peaceful  re- 
pose the  remains  of  the  gallant,  noble  and  beloved 
colonel.  Those  who  associated  with  him  in  camp,  on 
the  march,  and  in  battle,  and  in  all  the  various  and 
arduous  duties  of  soldier-life,  are  best  acquainted  with 
the  military  ability,  the  unremitting  zeal,  the  integrity 
of  character,  the  urbanity  of  manners,  and  the  nobility 
of  soul,  which  ever  characterized  the  man.  Yet  his 
immediate  associates  are  not  the  only  ones  who  know 
this,  for  among  the  numerous  officers,  both  of  superior 
and  inferior  rank,  belonging  to  the  various  commands 
with  which  his  regiment  was  identified  in  the  field,  he 


116  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

was  held  in  the  highest  respect  and  estimation,  his 
bravery  universally  acknowledged  and  lauded,  and 
everywhere  throughout  the  army,  where  he  was  known, 
he  was  mentioned  as  one  of  the  most  brave,  indus- 
trious, persevering  and  promising  military  men  which 
the  country  had  afforded.  By  the  survivors  of  that 
regiment  which  he  so  long,  so  faithfully,  and  so  honor- 
ably commanded,  his  valor,  his  virtues,  his  overflowing 
kindness  of  heart,  and  his  constant  solicitude  for  their 
comfort  and  welfare,  under  some  of  the  most  disadvan- 
tageous circumstances,  will  always  be  deeply  cherished 
in  memory,  and  the  prairie  burial  spot  which  contains 
his  sacred  ashes,  will  ever  be  approached  with  rever- 
ence, and  regarded  as  the  resting  place  of  a  brave 
soldier,  a  true  patriot,  and  an  estimable  citizen, 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  117 


CHAPTER    VII. 

The  Regiment  relieved  from  duty  for  a  time  after  the  Guntown 
Battle,  and  allowed  to  recruit  —  The  Command  soon  regains  a 
prosperous  condition,  and  prepares  for  the  Arkansas  Expedition, 
under  General  Mower  —  Arrival  at  St.  Charles,  Ark.  —  Company 
1 '  K  "  detached  and  left  at  the  mouth  of  White  River  as  Garrison 
—  Regiment  ascends  "White  River  to  Duvall1  s  Bluff,  and  goes  by 
Railroad  to  Brownsville  — The  lengthy  March  through  Arkansas 
to  Missouri  in  search  of  Price  —  Arrival  at  Camp  Girardeau  — 
"  Colonel  Pap,"  and  why  he  was  so  named  —  Regiment  embarks 
for  St.  Louis,  and  goes  to  Jefferson  City  —  Ordered  forward  to 
Sedalia  —  Assigned  to  Garrison  Duty  —  Remain  there  until  the 
Campaign  against  Price  closes  —  General  A.  J.  Smith's  troops 
sent  to  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis. 

ON  the  return  of  the  regiment  from  Guntown  to 
Memphis,  its  organization  had  been  so  much  shattered 
by  recent  misfortunes  that  it  was  relieved  for  a  time 
from  the  performance  of  other  than  light  duties,  and 
was  allowed  a  few  weeks  to  recover  from  the  severe 
shock  it  had  received,  before  taking  part  in  an  expe- 
dition which  was  soon  to  set  out  from  Memphis  for 
Arkansas,  under  command  of  General  Mower. 


118  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

On  the  20th  of  July,  Major  "William  A  very,  who 
had  been  absent  on  recruiting  service  in  Illinois,  and 
had  been  serving  on  court  martial  at  Springfield,  111., 
for  a  long  time,  returned  to  the  regiment  and  assumed 
command,  and  on  the  26th  of  the  same  month,  Lieut. 
Colonel  L.  Blanden,  who,  soon  after  the  Red  River 
expedition,  was  ordered  North  on  business,  rejoined 
the  regiment  at  Memphis.  The  regiment  now  under- 
went a  thorough  course  of  reparation  and  discipline. 
New  arms  and  clothing  replaced  the  old  ones  lost  and 
destroyed  during  the  Guntown  expedition,  and  soon 
the  command,  by  constant  drilling  and  unremitting 
efforts  on  the  part  of  the  officers  and  men,  regained  its 
former  condition  of  prosperity  and  efficiency,  and  was 
pronounced  well  prepared  in  every  way  to  reenter 
upon  active  duties  in  the  field. 

Preparations  were  now  being  made  for  the  movement 
of  troops  down  the  Mississippi  and  up  the  White  river, 
for  the  purpose  of  operating  in  Arkansas.  On  the  3rd 
of  August,  1864,  the  Ninety-fifth  embarked  on  the 
steamer  "  White  Cloud,"  at  Memphis,  and  arrived  at 
St.  Charles,  Arkansas,  on  the  5th.  Company  "  K " 
was  detached  from  the  regiment  at  the  mouth  of  White 
river,  and  assigned  to  garrison  that  post.  The  division 
of  the  17th  Army  Corps  commanded  by  Colonel  J.  B. 
Moore,  to  which  the  Ninety-fifth  belonged,  remained 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  119 

at  St.  Charles  until  September  1st,  building  fortifica- 
tions and  performing  picket  duty.  For  several  morn- 
ings in  succession  the  regiments  lay  in  line  of  battle, 
expecting  an  attack  from  the  enemy,  but  none  occurred. 
Little  Rock  was  at  this  time  threatened  by  the  enemy 
under  the  rebel  General  Price,  and  yet  it  was  uncertain 
exactly  where  that  cunning  Confederate  leader  intend- 
ed to  strike,  whether  he  would  attempt  to  seize  Little 
Eock,  where  Major  General  Steele  then  commanded, 
or  make  one  of  his  annual  raids  into  the  State  of 
Missouri.  A  portion  of  the  troops  belonging  to  the 
16th  Army  Corps,  under  Major  General  A.  J.  Smith, 
had  gone  up  the  river  from  Memphis,  and  landed  in 
Missouri,  to  operate  against  Price  if  he  should  come 
that  way,  while  another  portion  of  his  command,  in 
charge  of  General  Mower,  was  concentrating  at 
Brownsville,  on  the  railroad  between  Duvall's  Bluff 
and  Little  Rock,  and  within  easy  supporting  distance 
of  the  latter  place.  The  Ninety-fifth  left  the  post  of 
St.  Charles,  September  1st,  and  proceeded  with  Colonel 
Moore's  division  up  White  river  to  Duvall's  Bluffs. 
From  here  these  troops  were  ordered  farther  up  the 
river,  to  meet  a  rebel  force  reported  in  that  vicinity.  A 
sharp  skirmish  took  place  near  Augusta,  in  which  the 
enemy  met  with  severe  loss.  There  was  but  a  small 
force  of  rebels  found,  however,  and  they,  after  slight 
resistance,  fled  at  the  approach  of  our  troops. 


120  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

The  regiment  returned  down  the  river  Sept  6th,  to 
Duvall's  Bluff,  and  on  the  following  day  was  ordered  to 
proceed  by  railroad  from  that  place  to  Brownsville, 
where  it  arrived  the  same  night,  and  bivouacked  by  the 
cars.  It  was  about  this  time  that  the  real  intentions  of 
Price  were  made  known,  and  it  became  certain  that  he 
was  invading  the  State  of  Missouri  with  a  large  forca 
As  soon  as  this  was  ascertained,  General  Mower  imme- 
diately prepared  his  command  of  nearly  ten  thousand 
men,  then  collected  at  Brownsville,  for  an  active  cam- 
paign ;  put  them  in  light  marching  order,  and  on  the 
17th  of  September  pushed  forward  his  column  from 
that  point,  for  the  purpose  of  either  overtaking  the 
invading  rebel  army,  of  intercepting  it  on  its  home- 
ward retreat,  or  of  arriving  on  the  borders  of  Missouri 
in  time  to  participate  in  the  lively  war  scenes  whi«h 
were  soon  to  visit  that  section. 

The  Ninety-fifth,  during  this  expedition,  was  com- 
manded by  Lieut.  Colonel  William  Avery,  Colonel 
Blanden  having  been  ordered  North  on  recruiting 
service,  while  the  regiment  was  at  St.  Charles.  The 
line  of  march  was  northward  from  Brownsville,  through 
north-eastern  Arkansas,  passing  through  Austin,  Sircy 
and  Pocahontas,  and  crossing  the  White,  Little  Bed, 
and  Black  rivers,  and  the  movement  throughout  was 
conducted  by  General  Mower  with  all  the  energy  and 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  121 

celerity  for  which  that  dashing  officer  was  characterized. 
The  regiment  were  required  to  sound  the  reveille  at  an 
early  hour  each  morning,  dispose  seasonably  of  their 
hard-tack  and  coffee,  and  start  on  the  march  long  before 
daylight.  The  army  moved  forward  each  day  promptly 
at  the  time  mentioned  in  the  orders,  and  all  soon  un- 
derstood that  the  hour  set  for  marching  by  the  general 
commanding  was  to  be  literally  observed  and  carried 
out  with  precision,  and  that  if  they  desired  to  follow 
him  as  leader,  they  must  hold  themselves  ready  to 
move  when  he  moved,  which  was  invariably  at  the 
moment  he  had  previously  appointed. 

After  a  long  and  tedious  journey,  day  and  night, 
through  this  section  of  country,  in  quest  of  Price,  the 
troops,  worn  out  by  constant  marching,  and  many  of 
them  barefooted,  arrived  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri, 
on  the  Mississippi  river,  above  Cairo,  October  4th, 
1864. 

Price,  in  his  advance  to  Missouri,  had  taken  a 
different  route,  and  this  column  of  Union  troops  under 
Mower,  met  with  no  serious  opposition  from  the  enemy 
during  its  march  through  to  the  Cape.  There  was 
occasional  skirmishing  by  our  cavalry  at  the  front 

It  was  on  this  march  that  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Ninety-fifth  conferred  upon  their  worthy  and  good- 
natured  commander,  Colonel  Avery,  the  honorable  and 


122  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

fatherly  appellation  of  "Colonel  Pap."  On  starting 
out  from  Brownsville  the  usual  stringent  orders  were 
in  force  in  reference  to  foraging  and  pillaging.  Regi- 
mental commanders  were  held  strictly  responsible  that 
these  orders  were  executed.  On  this  trip,  many  of 
the  Ninety -fifth  men  broke  over  the  rigid  rules  and 
regulations,  and  as  the  regiment  filed  into  camp  at 
night,  they  often  appeared,  in  common  with  the  men 
of  other  regiments,  well  loaded  with  articles  which 
would  go  far  toward  satisfying  hunger,  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  monotonous  hard  bread  and  coffee, 
make  a  desirable,  if  not  a  sumptuous  evening  meal. 
The  division  commander  having  noticed  these  things, 
one  day  mentioned  the  matter  to  Colonel  Avery,  and 
requested  that  he  prevent  his  men  from  foraging  by 
the  roadside,  as  it  was  against  orders  and  could  not  be 
allowed.  Colonel  Avery,  however,  contended  that  his 
men  had  foraged  nothing  since  leaving  Brownsville, 
that  the  boys  supplied  themselves  at  that  point  with  the 
very  articles  which  now  excited  the  suspicion  and  dis- 
pleasure of  the  division  commander,  and  had  simply 
brought  them  along  for  their  comfort  during  the  expe- 
dition. ^Whenever  the  colonel  was  spoken  to  by  his 
superior  officer  in  reference  to  this  matter,  his  unan- 
swerable argument  was  that  his  men  transported 
their  forage  from  Brownsville,  and  had  seized 


ILLINOIS   INFANTKY   VOLUNTEERS.  123 

nothing  en  route.  For  this  cunning  manner  in  which 
the  colonel  shielded  his  men  from  accusations  of 
foraging  which,  if  traced  up,  would,  in  many  instances 
have  been  found  true,  and  for  many  other  kind  traits 
which  he  exhibited  during  the  expedition,  they  re- 
solved that  henceforth  he  should  receive  the  sobriquet, 
"  Colonel  Pap,"  and  ever  afterward  he  was  known 
among  them  by  that  title. 

The  troops  halted  but  a  few  days  at  Cape  Girardeau, 
as  Price  had  already  entered  the  State  and  penetrated 
to  a  point  far  north,  of  them,  evidently  intending  to 
strike  Jefferson  City.  Their  services  were,  therefore, 
needed  at  once  in  that  direction.  On  the  7th  day  of 
October,  the  Ninety-fifth  embarked  on  the  steamer 
"  Omaha  "  for  St.  Louis,  arrived  there  on  the  10th,  and 
was  here  transferred  to  the  transport  "  Yellow  Stone," 
for  a  trip  up  the  Missouri  river  to  Jefferson  City. 
After  much  delay  in  ascending  this  muddy  stream,  on 
account  of  numerous  sand-bars  in  the  river,  the  regi- 
ment reached  that  point  October  16th,  and  on  the  20th 
moved  forward  by  railroad  to  Sedalia.  It  was  here 
assigned  to  garrison  duty,  Colonel  Blanden  being  in 
command  of  the  post,  and  remained  at  Sedalia  until 
the  campaign  against  Price  ended  in  the  complete 
defeat  and  rout  of  that  invader's  army.  While  here, 
it  was  actively  employed  in  receiving  and  forwarding 


124:  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

the  large  numbers  of  prisoners  continually  coming  in, 
under  guard,  from  the  front,  among  whom  were  the 
notorious  rebel  leaders,  Marmaduke,  Cabal,  and  many 
other  officers  of  inferior  rank  The  whole  Union 
army,  after  these  successful  operations,  commenced 
moving  back  to  St  Louis  by  easy  marches,  and  the 
Ninety-fifth  returned  with  Major  General  A.  J.  Smith's 
command,  to  that  place,  by  way  of  Jefferson  City  and 
Hermann,  arriving  there  November  llth.  On  the 
following  day,  General  Smith's  troops  were  assigned 
quarters  at  Benton  Barracks,  five  miles  out  from  the 
city.  These  were  not  to  be  their  winter  quarters, 
however,  for  the  grand  military  movements  then  pro- 
gressing in  Tennessee  demanded  the  immediate  pres- 
ence of  General  Smith's  command  in  that  State. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  125 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Operations  of  Hood  in  Tennessee  —  His  Advance  on  Nashville  — 
Battles  at  Columbia,  Spring  Hill,  and  Franklin  - — General  Smith's 
Command  ordered  to  Ree'nforce  General  Thomas  at  Nashville  — 
Leaves  St.  Louis  on  Transports,  and  proceeds  to  Cairo  — Voyage 
up  the  Ohio  and  Cumberland  Rivers  —  Safe  arrival  at  Nashville 

—  Detachments  of  the  Ninety-fifth  rejoin  the  Regiment  —  Account 
of  the  Georgia  Detachment  during  General  Sherman's  Campaign 

—  Active  preparations  made  around  Nashville  to  receive  Hood  — 
His  Army  in  sight  —  The  Ninety-fifth  holds  an  important  Position 
in  the  Defenses  of  the  City  —  Work  on  the  Fortifications  —  Thomas 
moves  his  Army  out  to  attack  Hood  —  Great  Battles  of  December 
15th  and  16th,  1864  —  Hood's  Army  defeated  and  driven  back  in 
confusion  —  Part  taken  by  the  Ninety-fifth  —  The   Pursuit  to  the 
Tennessee  River —  General  Smith's  Troops  ascend  the  river  and  go 
into  Winter  Quarters,   at  Eastport,  Miss.  — Expedition  to  Corinth 
— The  Hard-tack  Famine  at  Eastport  —  Corn  issued  to  the  Troops 

—  The  Boys    desire   to  draw   Halters  —  Arrival   of    Rations  — 
Preparations   for  another  active   Campaign  —  Transports   arrive 
to   convey   the   Troops   to   New  Orleans. 

THE  rebel   General  Hood,    at  the  head  of  a  large 
arm}r,  liberated  as  he  supposed  from  General  Sherman's 
grasp,  who,  leaving  him  to  be  looked  after  by  General 
12 


126  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Thomas,  had  commenced  his  great  march  to  the  sea- 
coast,  was  now  concentrating  near  the  southern  boun- 
dary of  the  State  of  Tennessee,  and  initiating  a  cam- 
paign northward,  with  the  view  of  capturing  Nashville, 
and  sweeping  forward  successfully  to  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio  river.  Major  General  Thomas,  commanding  the 
army  and  department  of  the  Cumberland,  with  head- 
quarters at  Nashville,  was  assigned  by  General  Sher- 
man to  watch  Hood's  movements  and  defeat  his 
designs.  He  had  under  him  the  4th  and  23rd  Army 
Corps,  together  with  a  cavalry  force,  and  about  the 
middle  of  November,  1864,  these  Federal  troops,  then 
occupying  position  on  the  Tennessee  river,  near  Hunts- 
ville,  Alabama,  watching  the  approach  of  the  rebel 
army  of  invasion,  commenced  withdrawing  gradually 
before  Hood's  advancing  columns,  now  superior  in 
point  of  numbers,  in  the  direction  of  Pulaski,  Colum- 
bia, Franklin  and  Nashville. 

Hood,  emboldened  by  this  giving  way,  and  appa- 
rent weakness  of  Thomas'  retreating  army,  followed 
rapidly  in  pursuit,  and  promised  his  soldiers  that  he 
would  soon  lead  them  victoriously  into  the  city  of 
Nashville.  At  Columbia,  on  the  Duck  river,  thirty 
miles  below  Nashville,  the  Federal  army,  under  the 
immediate  control  of  General  Schofield,  made  a  stand 
and  gave  the  enemy  battle  to  retard  his  movements. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  127 

Shortly  afterward,  at  Spring  Hill,  another  engagement 
took  place,  in  which  there  was  heavy  loss  on  both 
sides.  The  Union  forces  resumed  their  line  of  retreat 
on  Nashville,  and  Hood,  flushed  with  what  seemed  to 
him  important  successes,  hurried  forward  his  army, 
and  recklessly  hurled  it  upon  the  Federals,  now 
strongly  fortified  at  Franklin.  Both  armies  here 
fought  with  indescribable  desperation,  and  each  suf- 
fered terrible  loss.  It  was  one  of  the  bloodiest  and 
greatest  battles  of  the  war.  The  regiments  of  Hood's 
army  were  frightfully  mown  down,  as  they  charged 
and  recharged  the  works  held  by  our  troops,  who 
would  not  surrender  them. 

The  victory  at  Franklin  was  with  the  troops  of 
General  Schofield,  but  in  accordance  with  orders  from 
General  Thomas,  who  planned  all  the  movements,  the 
former  subsequently  retreated  to  Nashville  with  both 
the  4th  and  23rd  corps. 

It  was  the  desire  and  plan  of  the  veteran  Thomas 
to  draw  the  impulsive  rebel  leader  as  far  north  and  as 
near  to  Nashville  as  possible,  even  to  its  very  gates, 
before  dealing  him  a  decisive  blow.  Thus  he  had  em- 
ployed the  forces  under  General  Schofield  in  enticing 
Hood  a  long  distance  from  his  base  of  supplies,  in 
retarding,  worrying,  and  severely  punishing  his  ad- 
vancing rebel  hosts,  until  heavy  and  important  reen- 


128  HISTORY  OP  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

forcements  could  arrive  at  Nashville,  whence  he  then 
intended  to  hurl  forth  his  combined  force  upon  the 
rebel  army. 

It  was  to  participate  in  these  stirring  scenes,  and  to 
reenforce  General  Thomas'  army  at  Nashville,  that  the 
regiments  under  General  A.  J.  Smith  were  sent  for- 
ward soon  after  rendezvousing  at  Benton  Barracks. 
They  were  allowed  to  rest  there  but  a  few  days,  for  the 
men  to  receive  pay  and  obtain  clothing,  when  the 
order  was  received  to  prepare  immediately  for  an  active 
campaign  in  the  field,  which  indicated  that  our  desti- 
nation would  be  Nashville.  Every  preparation  was 
accordingly  made  to  leave  for  the  scene  of  military 
operations  now  culminating  near  that  place.  On  the 
23rd  day  of  November,  1864,  Colonel  Moore's  division 
of  General  Smith's  command,  embarked  on  transports 
at  St  Louis,  the  Ninety -fifth  being  assigned  to  the 
steamer  "  Isabella,"  The  river  to  Cairo  was  filled  with 
floating  ice,  making  navigation  somewhat  difficult  and 
dangerous.  After  coaling  at  Cairo,  the  fleet  ascended 
the  Ohio  river,  passing  Paducah,  Kentucky,  and 
arrived  at  Smithland,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Cumber- 
land, on  Sunday,  the  27th  of  November.  To  this 
point  the  boats  conveying  the  troops  of  Colonel  J.  B. 
Moore?s  division  had  the  advance,  and  a  halt  was  here 
made  until  the  remainder  of  the  fleet,  containing  the 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  129 

divisions  of  General  McArthur  and  General  Garrard 
could  close  up,  prior  to  ascending  the  Cumberland 
river.  Necessary  precautions  were  also  here  taken  to 
ensure  safety,  and  guard  against  surprise  by  the  enemy 
while  passing  up  this  narrow  stream.  A  regular  signal 
code  of  steam  whistles  was  issued  to  the  commanding 
officer  of  each  boat,  by  which  the  approach  of  the 
enemy,  the  presence  of  his  batteries,  or  any  other 
danger,  might  be  made  known,  and  which  was  to  indi- 
cate the  landing  and  disposition  of  the  troops  in  case  of 
attack.  It  was  expected  that  the  expedition  would 
meet  with  trouble  before  reaching  Nashville,  as  Hood 
was  rapidly  advancing  on  the  place,  and  -would  en- 
deavor to  cut  off  the  various  lines  of  communication 
centering  there. 

On  the  28th  day  of  November,  the  whole  fleet,  con- 
taining the  three  divisions  of  troops,  left  Smithland 
and  steamed  up  the  Cumberland,  escorted  by  a  gun- 
boat, General  Smith's  head-quarters  boat  leading  the 
way.  According  to  the  orders,  the  transports  were  to 
keep  within  three  or  four  hundred  yards  of  each  other 
and  observe  that  distance  except  when  notified  differ- 
ently by  the  established  signals.  Occasionally  the 
screaming  whistle  of  General  Smith's  flag-ship,  re- 
sponded to  promptly  by  the  various  boats,  would  bring 
the  whole  fleet  into  "close  order,"  which  indicated 


180  HISTOKY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

there  might  be  danger  of  some  kind  ahead.  No  trouble 
or  misfortune,  however,  attended  this  expedition  during 
the  entire  voyage.  The  transports  ran  day  and  night, 
passed  Clarksville  on  the  29th,  and  arrived  safely  at 
Nashville  early  on  the  morning  of  November  30th. 
They  arrived  none  too  soon,  for  on  the  day  following, 
the  great  battle  was  fought  at  Franklin,  twelve  miles 
distant,  and  soon  afterward  Hood  advanced  his  lines 
to  within  a  short  distance  of  Nashville,  and  effected  a 
blockade  of  the  river  above  and  below  the  city. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  arrival,  the  Ninety-fifth  de- 
barked from  the  steamer  "  Isabella,"  marched  through 
the  city,  and  out  two  or  three  miles  to  the  camp  as- 
signed. Here  were  found  several  of  its  detachments 
which  had  long  been  absent,  and  of  which  some 
account  must  be  given  before  proceeding  farther. 

The  regiment,  before  leaving  Brownsville,  Arkansas, 
on  the  long  march  to  Missouri,  sent  its  sick  men  and 
those  who  would  be  unable  to  endure  an  active  cam- 
paign, together  with  all  surplus  baggage,  camp  and 
garrison  equipage,  back  to  Memphis,  to  which  place  it 
was  expected  the  regiment  would  return.  A  conva- 
lescent camp  was  formed  here,  in  charge  of  Lieutenant 
Gilkerson,  of  Company  "  E,"  and  afterward  the  de- 
tachment was  increased  by  the  arrival  of  recruits  from 
the  North,  who  came  down,  supposing  they  would  find 
the  regiment  at  Memphis. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNEEERS.  181 

After  the  close  of  the  campaign  against  Price,!  in 
Missouri,  Lieutenant  Gilkerson  was  ordered  to  proceed 
with  his  detachment  of  convalescents  and  recruits  to 
Nashville,  where  he  arrived  a  few  days  in  advance  of 
the  regiment,  bringing  with  him  all  its  camp  and 
garrison  equipage. 

Another,  known  as  the  Georgia  detachment,  was 
also  at  Nashville,  waiting  for  the  regiment  to  arrive. 
It  had  been  separated  from  the  command  for  a  long 
time,  and  consisted  of  the  convalescents  who  were  left 
at  Vicksburg  at  the  time  the  Red  River  expedition  set 
out,_and  were  soon  afterward  ordered  up  the  river  to 
Cairo,  and  of  recruits  obtained  by  the  recruiting  party 
which,  in  charge  of  Captains  Loop  and  Nish,  was  sent 
North  from  Yicksburg,  in  the  winter  of  1863.  On 
their  return  with  these  {{recruits,  in  May,  1864,  they 
received  orders  at  Cairo,  111.,  to  accompany  the  17th 
Army  Corps,  then  assembled  at  that  point,  and  on  its 
way  to  reenforce  the  Federal  army  under  General 
Sherman,  operating  in  Georgia.  They  were  assured 
that  their  regiment,  as  soon  as  it  could  return  from 
the  Red  River  expedition,  would  be  ordered  to  Georgia 
also,  but,  as  has  been  seen,  its  destination  was  in  quite 
another  direction. 

This  detachment,  numbering  between  one  and  two 
hundred  men,  under  command  of  Captain  (since 


132  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

Major)  Loop,  and  Captain  Nish,  embarked  at  Cairo, 
with  the  17th  Army  Corps,  May  12th,  1864,  and  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee  rivers  to  Clifton. 
Here  the  corps  disembarked  and  took  up  its  line  of 
march  across  the  country  for  General  Sherman's  army, 
passing  through  Huntsville  and  Decatur,  Alabama. 
Ten  miles  below  the  latter  place,  Ehoddy's  Confederate 
cavalry  appeared,  and  after  a  sharp  skirmish,  in  which 
the  detachment  took  part,  were  put  to  flight.  After- 
ward, on  this  march,  lively  skirmishes  occurred  with 
the  enemy  near  Warrenton  and  at  a  pass  through  the 
Blue  mountains,  known  as  "Buzzard's  Roost  Gap," 
when  he  was  again  routed.  On  the  8th  of  June  the 
detachment  arrived  at  Ackworth,  Georgia,  where  the 
great  movements  under  Sherman  were  then  pro- 
gressing, and  the  17th  Corps  immediately  took 
position  in  the  Federal  line  of  operations.  On  the 
14th  of  June,  Captain  Loop  was  detailed  as  engineer 
officer  for  the  3rd  Division  17th  Army  Corps,  and 
Captain  Nish  subsequently  commanded  the  detach- 
ment. It  was  attached  to  "  Worden's  Battalion,"  and 
took  active  part  in  all  the  advances,  flank  move- 
ments, skirmishes  and  actions  which  characterized  this 
celebrated  campaign.  It  was  warmly  engaged  in  the 
battles  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Chattahoochee  river, 
Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  and  Lovejoy  Station,  and  in 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  133 

common  with  the  whole  army  labored  arduously  and 
incessantly  until  the  campaign  closed  with  the  final 
evacuation  and  surrender  of  the  "Gate  City"  of  the 
South.  Its  casualties,  during  these  movements,  were, 
one  man  killed  in  action,  eleven  wounded,  and  two 
taken  prisoners. 

After  resting  a  few  days  from  the  active  duties  of  the 
summer's  campaign,  General  Sherman's  army  started  on 
its  celebrated  march  through  Georgia  to  the  seacoast, 
and  there  was  now  no  prospect  that  the  Ninety -fifth 
would  be  sent  to  Georgia.  The  men  of  the  detachment 
serving  there  having  been  long  without  pay  and  cloth- 
ing, and  suffered  many  inconveniences  from  their 
lengthy  absence,  were  all  anxious  to  return  to  the 
regiment.  Major  Loop,  Captain  Nish,  Captain  A.  S. 
Stewart,  and  a  few  of  the  men,  were  relieved,  and  re- 
joined the  regiment  while  at  St.  Louis.  Afterward,  the 
whole  detachment,  except  those  who  were  on  detached 
service  at  various  head-quarters  in  General  Sherman's 
army,  and  who  accompanied  him  to  Savannah,  was 
ordered  to  report  to  and  rejoin  its  command  at  Nash- 
ville. It  had  been  there  a  number  of  days  on  the 
arrival  of  the  regiment,  and  had  been  serving  at  the 
front,  aiding  in  retarding  Hood's  movements  toward 
the  city. 

By  Dec.  1st,  1864,  Hood,  following  up  the  Federal 
13 


134  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

array  on  its  retreat  from  Franklin,  approached  with 
his  forces  to  within  a  short  distance  of  Nashville,  and 
extended  his  lines  from  the  river  above  the  city,  around 
to  a  point  below,  where  he  planted  a  battery  and 
effected  a  blockade  of  the  Cumberland.  From  the 
reckless  manner  in  which  he  had  hurled  forward  his 
troops  at  Franklin,  and  in  the  battles  below  that  place, 
it  was  expected  he  would  at  once  lead  a  general  attack, 
and  attempt  to  storm  the  works  around  Nashville. 
Immediately  on  the  arrival  of  General  A.  J.  Smith's 
command,  it  was  assigned  an  important  position  in  the 
Union  lines  of  defense,  and  held  the  right  of  General 
Thomas'  army,  resting  on  the  river  below  the  city. 
Digging  and  intrenching  were  now  instituted  along  the 
whole  Federal  line,  and  each  regiment  was  required  to 
throw  up  works  in  its  own  front  The  Ninety-fifth 
occupied  a  position  on  one  of  the  Pike  roads,  leading 
south  from  the  city,  and  in  one  night  built  fortifications 
which  covered  the  regimental  line  of  battle.  Day  and 
night  the  work  was  prosecuted  vigorously,  and 
promptly  each  morning  at  five  o'clock  the  regiments 
were  in  line  of  battle,  near  their  fortifications,  where 
they  remained  until  daylight,  awaiting  an  assault  by 
the  enemy.  In  a  few  days  General  Thomas'  army  had 
constructed  a  continuous  line  of  works  around  the 
city,  and  was  fully  prepared  for  any  attack  by  the 
confronting  rebel  forces. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  135 

The  Union  line  of  defense  was  provided  also  with 
powerful  batteries,  located  at  proper  intervals  on  those 
natural  bluffs  which  surround  Nashville,  and  which 
were  now  used  advantageously  for  the  defense  of  the 
city,  and  to  conceal  the  numbers  and  real  intentions  of 
the  Federal  army.  During  these  hasty  but  efficient 
preparations  by  General  Thomas,  he  caused  many  of 
the  citizens  to  be  pressed  into  service,  for  the  time 
being,  and  obliged  them  to  go  out  to  the  lines  and 
help  build  the  fortifications.  To  see  the  clerks  and 
city  dandies,  and  other  non-combatants,  provided  with 
haversacks  well  filled  with  hard  bread,  and  marched 
out  to  the  front  where  an  opportunity  was  afforded  of 
developing  their  soft  muscles  by  work  upon  the  forts 
and  other  defenses,  was  the  cause  of  much  merriment 
among  the  boys  in  blue,  and  they  were  thankful  for 
such  temporary  assistance.  There  was  some  dissatis- 
faction on  the  part  of  those  thus  summarily  hurried 
from  their  peaceful  business  pursuits,  but  it  availed 
nothing  against  stern  military  necessity.  If  they  were 
unwilling  to  shoulder  a  musket  and  march  forth  to 
the  defense  of  the  country,  they  were  at  least  obliged, 
in  this  emergency,  to  shoulder  a  pick-axe  or  spade, 
and  lend  a  helping  hand  in  constructing  works  which 
might  rescue  Nashville  from  the  grasp  of  Hood. 

Between  the  1st  and  15th   days  of  December,   fre- 


136  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

quent  skirmishes  took  place  between  different  portions 
of  the  two  armies,  whose  lines  were  in  plain  view  of 
each  other,  without  bringing  on  any  general  engage- 
ment During  this  time  there  was  every  indication 
that  Hood  intended  to  make  an  attack,  but  having 
failed  to  do  so,  General  Thomas,  having  everything 
prepared,  determined  to  move  out  with  his  whole  army 
from  the  works  at  Nashville,  fight  Hood,  and  drive 
him  from  his  strong  positions  around  the  city.  The 
Federal  army  consisted  of  the  4th  and  23rd  Army 
Corps,  General  A.  J.  Smith's  command  designated  as 
"  Detachment  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,"  a  large 
force  of  cavalry,  and  some  colored  troops.  The 
Ninety-fifth  was  assigned  to  the  2nd  brigade,  3rd  divi- 
sion of  General  Smith's  force,  Colonel  J.  B.  Moore 
commanding  the  division,  Colonel  Blanden  the  brigade, 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  A  very  the  regiment 

On  the  evening  of  December  14th,  orders  were  re- 
ceived for  the  troops  to  have  reveille  at  five,  and  to  be 
ready  to  move  at  5^-  o'clock  A.  M.;  on  the  following 
morning.  All  understood  that  this  order  meant 
business  on  the  morrow,  for  our  march  could  not  extend 
far  before  coming  upon  the  watchful  foe.  At  an  early 
hour,  on  the  15th,  the  camps  were  astir,  preparatory  to 
marching  at  the  hour  indicated.  It  was  a  reveille,  how- 
ever, without  music,  for  no  beating  of  drums  or  playing 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  137 

of  fifes  was  allowed,  lest  the  enemy  might  distrust  the 
designs  of  the  Union  army.  The  morning  was  very 
foggy,  and  continued  so  long  after  General  Thomas' 
army  was  under  motion,  serving  as  a  complete  de- 
ception to  the  enemy,  who  was  little  suspecting  an 
attack  on  that  day. 

Thomas  moved  his  main  army  out  on  the  Hardin 
Pike,  with  a  large  body  of  cavalry  in  advance  and  on 
the  flanks,  and  immediately  deployed  it  for  action. 
The  detachment  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  occu- 
pied the  right,  the  23rd  Army  Corps  the  centre,  and 
the  4th  Corps  and  colored  troops  the  left  of  the  Union 
lines  of  battle.  It  was  a  magnificent  sight  to  witness 
this  vast  army  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery  move 
forward  steadily  and  gallantly  to  the  work  in  hand, 
confident  that  no  opposing  force  could  withstand  its 
onward  sweep.  Hood's  main  works  were  but  a  few 
miles  distant,  and  soon  after  the  troops  were  formed  in ' 
line,  the  battle  opened  lively  between  the  skirmishers 
of  both  armies.  By  11  A.  M.,  the  contest  raged  furi- 
ously along  the  whole  lines,  and  the  rebel  batteries 
commenced  playing  upon  the  advancing  columns. 
The  batteries  on  the  enemy's  left  were  charged  and 
carried  by  storm  during  the  afternoon,  by  a  portion  of 
the  cavalry,  and  by  General  McArthur's  division  of 
infantry.  On  every  part  of  the  line  General  Thomas' 


138  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

army  was  successful  throughout  the  day,  driving  the 
enemy  steadily  back,  taking  battery  after  battery, 
^many  prisoners,  and  killing  and  wounding  a  large 
number  of  his  men. 

In  the  charge  made  by  Colonel  Blanden's  brigade, 
during  the  first  day's  battle,  across  an  open  field,  the 
Ninety-fifth  became  exposed  to  a  raking  fire  from  one 
of  the  enemy's  batteries,  which  it  supposed  had  been 
taken  by  our  troops  on  the  left,  and  for  a  short  time 
was  in  imminent  danger  of  being  severely  cut  up  by 
the  solid  shot  thrown  from  this  unexpected  source. 
This  battery  was  soon  in  our  possession,  the  regiment 
advanced  rapidly  over  the  field  and  escaped  with  the 
loss  of  only  one  man,  Corporal  John  Kennedy,  of 
Company  "  A,"  whose  left  limb  was  taken  off  near  the 
knee  by  a  solid  shot  In  this  charge,  Colonel  Moore's 
division  captured  two  or  three  hundred  prisoners,  who 
had  taken  position  behind  a  stone  fence,  as  sharp- 
shooters. Darkness  only  put  an  end  to  the  struggle  on 
this  day,  but  when  the  curtain  of  night  fell  upon  the 
contending  hosts,  hushing  them  to  silence,  it  was  plain 
that  General  Thomas,  thus  far,  had  been  everywhere 
successful,  and  remained  master  of  the  situation.  Yet 
the  events  of  this  day's  battle  had  not  decided  the  fate 
of  either  army ;  there  was  yet  disputed  ground  in  front 
of  the  Federal  lines,  and  during  the  night  of  the  15th 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  139 

every  preparation  was  made,  on  both  sides,  to  resume 
the  contest  early  on  the  following  day.  Entrenching 
parties  were  busy  all  night  long,  with  the  axe,  pick 
and  spade,  and  at  early  dawn,  on  the  16th,  the  battle 
opened  again  in  all  its  fury.  Hood  having  been  driven 
back  on  the  day  previous,  had  withdrawn  a  short  dis- 
tance to  an  advantageous  position,  and  the  key-point 
of  his  whole  line,  on  the  second  day's  battle,  was 
located  upon  and  near  the  Brentwood  Hills.  On  the 
morning  of  the  16th,  General  A.  J.  Smith's  command 
occupied  position  directly  in  front  of  these  works  of 
the  enemy,  and  now  held  the  centre  of  General 
Thomas'  army,  the  23rd  Army  Corps  having  been 
transferred  to  the  right.  Heavy  cauonading  and  mus- 
ketry were  kept  up  from  morning  until  3  o'clock  p.  M., 
without  material  advantage  to  either  aide.  General 
Thomas  had  ordered  a  general  charge  at  that  hour 
upon  the  enemy's  works,  and  at  the  appointed  time  it 
commenced  vigorously  along  his  whole  line.  General 
McArthur's  division  of  General  Smith's  command 
covered  itself  with  glory  on  this  occasion,  and  well 
earned  the  honor  of  carrying  the  enemy's  key-point 
\)j  storm.  Responding  to  the  order  for  a  charge  with 
deafening  yells,  they  swept  up  the  steep  heights  under 
a  murderous  fire,  regiment  following  and  supporting 
regiment,  and  after  a  sharp  and  decisive  assault,  gained 


140  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

possession  of  the  Brentwood  Hills.  As  soon  as  these 
strong  fortifications  were  thus  gallantly  carried,  Hood's 
army,  defeated  now  at  all  points,  broke  and  fled  in 
confusion  toward  Franklin.  At  the  close  of  the  sec- 
ond day's  battle  nearly  all  of  his  artillery  had  been 
captured,  a  large  proportion  of  his  men  taken  prison- 
ers, and  his  killed  and  wounded  left  strewn  over 
the  various  battle-fields.  It  was  a  great  day  for  the 
army  under  the  brave  and  strategic  Thomas,  but  a 
terrible  one  for  the  ambitious  and  fiery  Hood  and  his 
forces,  which  he  had  supposed  were  invincible.  After 
his  defeat  and  flight,  our  cavalry  moved  forward  in 
immediate  pursuit,  the  same  evening.  The  infantry 
bivouacked  for  the  night  near  Brentwood  Hills,  and  on 
the  morning  of  December  17th,  advanced  on  the 
"  Granny  White  Pike,"  toward  Franklin.  The  demor- 
alized rebel  army  was  now  in  full  and  rapid  retreat 
beyond  that  place,  and  our  pursuing  cavalry  were  con- 
tinually sending  back  prisoners,  and  occasionally  a 
heavy  gun,  which  the  enemy  had  endeavored  to  take 
off. 

On  Sunday,  the  18th  of  December,  the  Ninety-fifth 
arrived  at  Franklin,  and  camped  on  the  south  side  of 
the  town,  near  the  place  where  the  great  battle  had 
been  fought  a  few  weeks  previous.  On  the  19th,  the 
regiment  resumed  the  pursuit  from  Franklin,  passing 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  141 

through  Spring  Hill,  the  scene  of  a  great  battle  during 
Hood's  advance,  and  marched  the  same  day  to  within 
eight  miles  of  Columbia,  situated  on  the  south  side  of 
Duck  river.  On  the  22nd  it  moved  forward  to  Duck 
river,  and  encamped  on  the  north  side  of  it  General 
Smith's  troops  were  delayed  here  until  the  24th, 
waiting  for  the  4th  Army  Corps,  which,  in  the  pursuit 
of  Hood's  retreating  army,  held  the  advance  of  the 
Federal  forces,  to  cross  upon  the  pontoon  bridges. 
After  the  battles  around  Nashville,  the  different  divi- 
sions and  corps  pushed  forward  vigorously,  each  desi- 
rous of  being  foremost  in  the  pursuit.  Such  was  the 
enthusiasm  and  zeal  throughout  the  Union  army  over 
the  recent  victories,  that  its  march  from  the  Nashville 
battle-fields  to  Duck  river  was  turned  into  an  eager 
strife  between  the  corps  to  precede  each  other.  The 
23rd  Army  Corps  had  fought  along  this  same  route  on 
its  retreat  a  short  time  previous,  and  now  appeared  to 
claim  the  road  in  preference  to  the  detachment  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  which  had  been  ordered  to 
follow  immediately  after  the  4th  Corps.  On  several 
occasions  it  endeavored  to  pass  the  troops  of  General 
Smith's  command,  thereby  somewhat  confusing  the 
order  of  march.  This  was  not  permitted,  however,  on 
the  part  of  General  Smith  and  his  men,  who,  at  all 
times,  maintained  their  position  in  the  column,  and 


142  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

gave  their  friends  of  the  23rd  to  understand  that 
"  Smith's  Guerrillas  "  had  performed  trips  of  this  nature 
before,  were  well  posted  as  to  their  rights  and  duties, 
and  were  not  to  be  jostled  out  of  the  designated  order 
of  moving.  The  23rd  were,  therefore,  obliged  to 
march  in  rear  of  the  detachment  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  to  Duck  river,  and  all  attempts  to  precede 
it  were  made  in  vain.  There  was  considerable  strife, 
also,  at  this  stream,  between  these  two  commands  as 
to  which  should  first  cross.  The  4th  Corps  was  already 
over,  and  General  Smith  was  ordered  to  follow  next 
He  commenced  doing  so,  when  a  portion  of  the  23rd 
Corps  desired  to  occupy  the  pontoon  at  the  same  time. 
The  fiery  old  general  seeing  this,  posted  himself  at  one 
end  of  the  bridge,  and  with  drawn  sword,  swore  that 
not  a  man  of  the  other  command  should  pass  until  his 
own  force  had  crossed.  On  the  24th  day  of  December, 
the  Ninety-fifth  passed  over,  marched  through  Colum- 
bia, and  went  into  camp  three  miles  beyond  the  town, 
where  a  halt  was  made  until  the  wagon  train,  which 
was  delayed  at  the  bridge,  could  come  up. 

The  weather  was  now  becoming  very  cold,  snow 
had  fallen,  the  ground  was  frozen,  and  many  of  the 
men,  having  worn  their  shoes  through,  marching  on  the 
hard  Pike  road,  were  in  suffering  condition. 

The  regiment  spent  Christmas,    December  25th,  a 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  143 

cold  and  disagreeable  day,  as  cheerfully  as  possible  in 
their  camp  near  Columbia,  waiting  anxiously  for  the 
train  to  arrive  with  the  blankets  and  rations.  Though 
the  rebel  army  had  been  through  this  section  twice 
within  a  short  time,  and  nearly  drained  the  country  of 
supplies,  yet  the  Union  soldiers,  by  the  exercise  of 
their  characteristic  inquisitiveness,  succeeded  in  se- 
curing from  the  neighboring  plantations  plenty  of 
fowls  and  roasters,  which,  in  connection  with  hard-tack 
and  coffee,  furnished  the  officers  and  privates  with 
respectable  Christmas  dinners.  On  the  26th,  the  regi- 
ment broke  camp  and  resumed  the  march  on  the  Pike, 
leading  to  Pulaski.  All  along  the  route  were  strewn 
the  numerous  evidences  of  the  hasty  and  panic-stricken 
manner  in  which  the  demoralized  rebel  army  retreated. 
Broken  fire-arms,  knapsacks  and  burdensome  clothing 
had  been  abandoned  by  the  foe  in  his  precipitous  flight, 
and  were  the  sure  indications  of  his  terrible  discom- 
fiture. The  infantry  reached  Pulaski,  December  27th, 
where  the  solid  Pike  on  which  the  troops  had  marched 
from  near  Nashville,  terminated,  and  thence  to  the 
Tennessee  river  their  course  was  to  be  over  a  dirt  road, 
muddy,  snowy,  badly  cut  up,  and  difficult  to  travel  at 
this  inclement  season  of  the  year.  In  the  pursuit  thus 
far,  the  infantry  had  not  been  required  to  support  the 
cavalry,  which  was  far  in  advance  pressing  closely  the 


144  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

fleeing  and  scattered  rebels.  Every  day  large  numbers 
of  prisoners  were  sent  back  from  the  front,  and  the 
cavalry  needed  no  assistance  in  the  prosecution  of  their 
good  work. 

The  history  of  the  war  will  not  present  an  army 
worse  beaten,  cut  up  and  disorganized  than  was  Hood's 
at  this  time.  The  active  campaign  may  be  said  to 
have  now  ended,  though  much  severe  marching  was 
afterward  performed  before  reaching  the  Tennessee 
river.  The  cavalry  and  the  4th  Army  Corps  continued 
the  pursuit  in  the  direction  of  Florence,  Alabama, 
where  remnants  of  the  rebel  army  succeeded  in  cross- 
ing the  river  and  effecting  an  escape.  The  detachment 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  was  ordered  from 
Pulaski  across  the  south-western  portion  of  the  State, 
to  strike  the  Tennessee  river  at  Clifton,  and  the  23rd 
Army  Corps  subsequently  followed  to  that  point  On 
the  28th  day  of  December,  the  Ninety-fifth  started 
from  Pulaski  and  marched  ten  miles.  Owing  to  the 
bad  condition  of  the  roads  the  troops  were  obliged  to 
move  slowly,  and  much  difficulty  was  experienced  in 
bringing  up  the  wagon  trains.  The  portion  of  country 
through  which  the  army  was  now  passing  was  the 
poorest  section  of  Tennessee,  had  long  been  desolated 
by  the  ravages  of  war,  and  was  now  deserted  mostly 
of  inhabitants.  Being  in  close  proximity  to  the 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  It  5 

Alabama  border,  it  had  felt  the  effects  of  the  war 
much  more  severely  than  other  localities  of  the  State, 
and  had  been  overrun  frequently  by  both  the  Union 
and  Eebel  armies.  Withal,  it  was  the  most  loyal  por- 
tion of  Tennessee,  and  had  sent  forth*  from  its  poor 
white  communities  important  aid  to  assist  in  putting 
down  the  rebellion,  a  cavalry  regiment  having  been 
raised  in  this  section  for  that  purpose.  On  the  30th 
of  December,  the  Ninety-fifth  moved  on  through  Law- 
renceburg,  formerly  of  some  importance  as  a  manu- 
facturing town,  but  now  deserted  and  inactive.  The 
following  day  was  the  severest  which  the  regiment 
ever  experienced  in  the  service.  During  the  night  of 
the  30th  a  rain  set  in,  which,  by  morning,  turned  into 
a  cold  snow  storm.  The  troops  suffered  bitterly  that 
night,  and  were  ordered  to  proceed,  at  7  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  over  the  frozen  roads.  Many  of  the 
soldiers  had  worn  their  shoes  completely  through,  be- 
fore leaving  the  Pike  at  Pulaski,  and  a  new  supply 
could  not  be  obtained  until  the  army  should  arrive  at 
Clifton.  In  this  pitiable  condition,  many  a  soldier 
could  be  seen  tramping  along  during  that  bitter  cold 
day,  while  the  very  blood  reddened  his  footprints  on 
the  snowy  ground,  as  he  passed  along  !  I  remember 
seeing,  on  that  frosty  day's  march,  a  number  of  men 
belonging  to  the  44th  Missouri  Infantry,  plodding 


146  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

along  barefooted  over  the  frozen  roads,  and  there  were 
similar  instances  in  every  regiment. 

The  44th  had  been  in  the  service  but  a  short  time, 
was  hotly  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Franklin,  where  it 
was  badly  cut  4o  pieces,  and  after  the  retreat  to  Nash- 
ville was  immediately  assigned  to  Colonel  Blanden's 
brigade.  It  had  started  out  on  the  present  campaign 
without  having  time  to  obtain  a  sufficient  supply  of 
shoes  and  clothing.  Its  condition  was,  therefore,  now 
deplorable,  and  it  suffered  extremely  during  this  cold 
and  tedious  march  in  midwinter.  The  other  regiments 
were  better  prepared  at  the  outset,  but  all  were  obliged 
at  this  time  to  undergo  much  privation  and  suffering. 

On  the  2nd  day  of  January,  1865,  the  Ninety -fifth 
started  early  from  camp,  near  Waynesboro,  and  after  a 
lengthy  and  fatiguing  day's  march,  arrived  late  in  the 
evening  at  Clifton,  the  present  destination  of  General 
Smith's  command.  Thus  finally  ended  the  severest 
campaign  in  which  the  Ninety-fifth  was  ever  engaged. 
When  the  suffering  which  prevailed  in  consequence  of 
the  extreme  cold  weather,  and  all  the  other  circum- 
stances are  considered,  it  is  believed  there  is  no  expe- 
dition in  which  the  regiment  participated  during  the 
service,  which  can  compare  with  this  one  in  point  of 
suffering  and  fatigue. 

After  leaving  Pulaski,   nothing  was  seen  of  the  re- 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS. 

treating  rebel  army,  on  the  route  taken  by  General 
Smith's  troops.  What  remained  of  it  after  crossing 
Duck  river  at  Columbia,  fled  on  another  road  in  the 
direction  of  Florence,  Alabama,  closely  pursued,  as 
already  stated,  by  our  cavalry  and  the  4th  Army  Corps. 
The  regiments  rested  at  Clifton  for  a  few  days,  and 
meanwhile  transports  arrived  from  Nashville,  bringing 
plenty  of  shoes,  clothes  and  rations  for  the  troops.  The 
weather  continued  cold  while  here,  and  the  men  had 
hard  work  to  keep  warm  around  their  camp  fires  and 
beneath  the  thin-roofed  "  dog  tents."  In  a  few  days 
General  Smith's  whole  command  were  on  their  way  up 
the  Tennessee  river  to  Eastport,  where  they  were  or- 
dered to  go  into  winter  quarters.  The  second  division 
(General  Garrard's,)  and  a  part  of  the  first,  commanded 
by  General  McArthur,  had  arrived  at  that  point  by 
the  8th  of  January,  and  on  the  same  day  Colonel 
Moore's  division  embarked  on  transports  at  Clifton  for 
that  place.  The  Ninety -fifth  broke  camp  at  Clifton 
late  in  the  afternoon  of  January  8th,  and  proceeded  to 
the  river  for  the  purpose  of  embarking.  The  different 
boats  assigned  to  the  two  brigades  of  Colonel  Moore's 
division  were  lying  there,  but  were  already  heavily 
loaded  with  the  transportation  of  the  2nd  division, 
and  a  portion  of  the  troops  of  the  1st.  It  seemed 
impossible  to  crowd  another  command  of  six  regiments 


148  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

on  the  same  transports.  General  Smith,  in  his  charac- 
teristic manner,  insisted  that  it  could,  and  swore  that 
it  should  be  done.  If  any  inferior  officer  attempted 
to  argue  with  him  the  impossibility  of  carrying  so 
large  a  force  upon  so  few  steamboats,  at  one  trip,  he 
would  reply  in  his  effective,  though  profane  phrase- 
ology, that  "  These  boats,  sir,  by  G — d,  sir,  can  carry 
these  troops;  sir,  and  five  thousand  more,  by  G — d, 
sir."  Whether  the  brave  old  campaigner  was  worked 
up  to  this  pitch  of  determination  by  a  premeditated, 
sober  intention  and  desire  to  debark  his  entire  com- 
mand that  night,  or  whether  he  was  laboring  under 
certain  other  exciting  influences  on  that  occasion,  it  is 
unnecessary  to  consider  here ;  but  suffice  it  to  say, 
that  in  accordance  with  his  emphatic  commands,  the 
regiments  went  aboard  the  transports  in  a  lively  man- 
ner, crowding  every  nook  and  corner  of  the  heavily 
freighted  crafts.  The  place  of  embarkation  was  dis- 
advantageous, being  by  a  very  steep  bank,  where  the 
steamboats  could  be  reached  only  along  a  narrow  road- 
way leading  down  to  the  river's  edge.  A  large  quan- 
tity of  the  transportation  belonging  to  another  division, 
occupied  this  avenue  of  approach  to  the  steamers,  and 
had  to  be  loaded  before  anything  from  Colonel  Moore's 
command  could  gain  admission. 

Long  after  dark  the  Ninety-fifth,  much  delayed  by 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  149 

the  confusion  in  which  all  things  seemed  to  move, 
finally  succeeded  in  getting  aboard  the  steamer  "  Leni 
Leoti."  To  realize  the  scene  on  this  occasion,  one 
needs  to  have  been  present  and  witnessed  it  Such 
an  operation  by  daylight  ia  generally  attended  with 
much  wearisomeness  and  clamor,  but  when  performed 
in  a  dark  night,  as  at  Clifton,  presents  one  of  the 
roughest  scenes  in  army  life,  and  is  characterized  by 
nothing  particularly  pleasant  and  attractive.  It  seemed 
to  matter  little,  how  much  inconvenience  one  party 
caused  another,  in  the  general  disposition  of  everybody 
to  look  out  for  number  one.  Different  commanders 
wrangled  and  claimed  the  same  boats  exclusively  for 
their  own  commands ;  those  persons  versed  and  ex- 
pert in  the  profane  tongue,  found  it  an  admirable  occa- 
sion for  exercising  their  versatility  in  that  respect  with 
great  force  and  profusion.  Soldiers  were  crammed 
into  places  where  they  perhaps  had  room  to  stand,  but 
not  to  lie  down ;  mules  were  knocked  around  and  se- 
verely beaten,  when,  in  fact,  they  knew  more  than 
those  who  were  beating  them ;  everything  was  in  up- 
roar, everybody  wai  mad,  and  somebody  must  have 
been  drunk  Spurred  on  by  General  "  A.  J.'s  "  stem 
orders,  the  troops  completed  their  rough  and  tumble 
embarkation  late  in  the  evening  of  January  8th,  and 
14 


150  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

thus  was  verified  his  forcible  assertion,  that  "  it  could 
and  should  be  done  to-night,  sir." 

The  fleet  moved  up  the  river  about  midnight,  pass- 
ing Pittsburg  Landing  the  9th.  Near  this  place 
guerrillas  showed  themselves,  and  delivered  a  few 
shots  at  the  passing  transports.  The  Ninety-fifth  re- 
plied with  volleys  from  the  "  Leni  Leoti,"  and  the 
infestors  of  the  river  bank  suddenly  disappeared  under 
cover  of  the  neighboring  thicket.  January  10th,  the 
transports  arrived  safely  at  Eastport,  and  Colonel 
Moore's  division  commenced  debarking  early  on  the 
same  day.  The  weather  was  stormy  and  cold,  and  the 
ground  at  the  landing  deep  with  mud.  The  regiments 
moved  from  the  boats  and  remained  near  the  river,  on 
the  wet  and  disagreeable  low  lands,  until  permanent 
camping-grounds  could  be  selected,  on  the  hills  near 
by.  In  the  afternoon  camps  were  assigned,  and  the 
various  regiments  marched  away  to  their  respective 
encampments.  The  position  occupied  by  General 
Smith's  troops  on  the  Eastport  heights,  was  important 
and  commanding,  and  a  strong  line  of  fortifications 
was  thrown  up  immediately  on  the  arrival  of  his  divi- 
sions at  that  place,  each  division  being  required  to 
fortify  its  own  front 

Orders  were  now  received  for  the  regiments  to  build 
winter  quarters,  and  all  were  soon  busily  employed  in 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  151 

felling  the  thick  timber  and  constructing  the  rude  but 
substantial  and  warm  log  huts.  In  a  few  days  the 
camp  of  the  Ninety-fifth  was  changed  into  a  miniature 
village,  and  the  men  were  thus  well  protected  from 
the  cold,  raw  winds  which,  at  that  season  of  the  year, 
continually  sweep  over  those  bleak  hills. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  the  quiet  and  monotony  of 
life  in  winter  quarters  was  disturbed  by  an  order  for 
Colonel  Moore's  division  to  make  a  reconnoisance  in 
the  direction  of  Corinth,  which  was  reported  to  be  still 
occupied  by  a  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry,  commanded 
by  Ross.  The  object  of  the  present  expedition  was 
to  feel  of  the  enemy,  and,  avoiding  a'  general  engage- 
ment, to  ascertain  whether  or  not  he  intended  to  hold 
his  position  at  Corinth.  Accompanied  by  a  brigade 
of  Federal  cavalry,  under  General  Croxton,  the  in- 
fantry moved  from  camp  atEastport,  at  6  o'clock  A.  M., 
on  the  18th,  provided  with  three  days'  rations  in  haver- 
sacks and  three  in  wagons,  passed  through  the  village 
of  luka,  and  marched  sixteen  miles,  camping  fourteen 
from  Corinth  that  night  Our  cavalry  during  the  day 
had  some  skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  who  was  easily 
driven  back.  The  march  was  resumed  early  on  the 
following  day,  and  the  head  of  the  infantry  column, 
then  held  by  the  Ninety-fifth,  arrived  in  Corinth  at 
icon,  meeting  with  no  resistance.  The  enemy,  learn- 


152  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

ing  of  our  approach,  had  evacuated  the  place  a  few 
hours  previous  to  our  arrival,  and  had  set  fire  to  the 
"Tishiningo  House,"  which  was  filled  with  rebel  com- 
missary stores.  The  building  was  still  burning  as  we 
entered  the  town,  and  could  not  be  saved.  The  troops 
halted  in  Corinth  an  hour  or  two  for  the  men  to  make 
their  coffee,  and  the  object  of  the  reconnoisance  having 
been  accomplished,  the  expedition  turned  back  the 
same  day  in  the  direction  of  Eastport,  marching  out 
nine  miles.  January  20th  it  reached  luka,  and  on  the 
following  day  the  regiment  came  back  and  resumed 
their  winter  quarters  at  Eastport  This  expedition 
took  place  during  delightful  though  chilly  weather. 
The  roads  were  hard  and  in  good  condition,  except  when 
they  led  through  intervening  swamps.  The  men  of 
the  different  regiments  who  had  been  lying  in  camp 
for  some  days  without  much  exercise,  were  greatly 
benefited  by  this  march.  The  troops  now  experienced 
severe  winter  weather  at  Eastport,  but  the  glowing 
camp-fires  within  the  soldiers'  snug  log  cabins,  made 
everything  comfortable  and  cheerful,  and  kept  the 
men  from  freezing. 

About  this  time,  also,  the  rations  for  General  Smith's 
entire  command  commenced  growing  short  Boats 
containing  corflmissary  stores  were  daily  expected  up 
the  river,  but  failed  to  arrive,  and  soon  it  became  neces- 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  153 

sary  to  provide  measures  against  impending  suffering 
and  starvation.  It  was  severe  to  oblige  the  troops  to 
encamp  upon  those  cold,  bleak  hills  in  midwinter,  but 
when  the  prospect  of  being  pinched  for  food  was  added 
to  this,  they  considered  the  condition  of  affairs  unneces- 
sary and  outrageous.  Still  the  boys  did  not  grumble 
much  at  their  lot,  but  were  rather  disposed  to  make 
sport  of  their  straightened  and  half-famished  cir- 
cumstances. 

Several  days  passed,  and  the  transports  still  failed 
to  report  with  rations.  There  was  something  wrong 
somewhere  down  the  river.  Somebody  was  to  blame, 
yet  no  one  could  tell  where  the  responsibility  for  the 
delay  rested.  Finally  the  scant  rations  of  the  troops 
were  all  consumed,  and  immediately  something  had  to 
be  furnished  the  men  for  food.  It  happened  that  a 
large  quantity  of  forage  had  been  brought  up  the  river 
for  the  horses  and  mules  of  the  army.  This  was  now 
used  to  prevent  starvation  among  the  troops,  and  as  a 
dernier  resort,  shelled  corn  was  issued  to  them  by  the 
bag  full,  in  lieu  of  their  regular  rations.  Some  of  the 
commissioned  officers,  whose  messes  had  not  been  well 
supplied  beforehand,  were  reduced  to  the  same  predic- 
ament with  enlisted  men,  and  were  provided  with  the 
same  article  of  subsistence  as  the  soldiers.  Forja  few 
days  the  troops  had  scarcely  any  other  food  to  live 


154  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

upon,  and  corn-cake  and  popped  corn  were  the  only 
dishes  afforded  at  the  mess  tables.  Various  jokes  and 
hits  were  perpetrated  by  the  boys  upon  those  in  au- 
thority, and  they  often  wanted  to  know  "  when  '  Old 
A.  J.'  was  going  to  issue  rations  of  hay,  and  draw 
halters  for  them."  It  is  but  just  to  state  here,  how- 
ever, that  neither  General  Smith,  nor  any  one  else  at 
Eastport,  was  blamable  for  the  scarcity  of  provisions, 
though  there  must  have  been  a  great  fault  somewhere 
in  the  commissary  department  of  the  army.  There 
was  no  excuse  for  the  uncomfortable  condition  of 
affairs,  as  ever  since  the  arrival  of  troops  at  this  point 
the  line  of  communication  had  been  constantly  open 
to  Nashville,  the  depot  of  supplies  for  the  Army  and 
Department  of  the  Cumberland 

There  is  nothing  about  which  a  soldier  is  more  sensi- 
tive than  his  appetite,  and  he  very  much  dislikes  to 
have  it  restrained  or  interfered  with,  unless  under  some 
great  and  pressing  military  necessity.  He  will  go 
months  without  receiving  a  dime  of  pay,  without  a 
murmur,  but  place  him  upon  short  rations  for  a  day 
even,  and  you  will  hear  from  him  immediately.  If 
you  expect  him  to  march,  fight,  or  perform  well  in  any 
manner,  you  must  keep  his  haversack  well  supplied 
with  at  least  hard  cracker  and  coffee,  or  give  a  good 
explanation  why  it  cannot  be  done.  He  never  expects 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  155 

luxuries  to  be  dealt  out  to  him,  but  always  insists  that 
his  regular  rations,  under  ordinary  circumstances, 
shall  be,  and  if  they  are  not  forthcoming,  he  is  liable  to 
indulge  in  some  of  the  most  emphatic,  caustic  and 
often  irreverent  remarks  concerning  those  in  authority, 
which  can  be  found  in  the  soldier's  vocabulary. 

Finally,  boats  reached  Eastport  bringing  large  sup- 
plies of  commissary  stores,  removing  all  fears  on  the 
subject  of  starvation,  and  thereafter  the  men  had  plenty 
to  eat  It  may  be  remarked  here,  that  the  story  which 
appeared  about  this  time  in  a  Northern  paper,  repre- 
senting that  a  transport  having  arrived  at  Eastport 
heavily  laden  with  corn,  the  half-starved  soldiers 
rushed  violently  on  board  and  devoured  the  entire 
cargo,  was  wholly  fictitious,  having  no  foundation  in 
fact. 

While  the  Ninety-fifth  was  in  camp  at  Eastport, 
Company  "  K,"  which,  for  a  long  time  had  been  per- 
forming garrison  duty  at  the  mouth  of  White  river, 
Arkansas,  having  been  left  there  in  the  fall  previous, 
rejoined  its  command.  It  had  endeavored  to  report  to 
the  regiment  at  Nashville,  but  on  its  passage  up  the 
Cumberland  river,  had  been  obliged  to  disembark  at 
Clarksvil^e  on  account  of  the  blockade,  and  was  unable 
to  meet  the  regiment  in  time  to  participate  in  the 
battles  around  Nashville,  and  the  subsequent  pursuit 
of  Hood's  army  to  the  Tennessee  river. 


156  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

The  troops  remained  in  winter  quarters  at  Eastport 
until  the  fore  part  of  February,  1865,  when  a  large 
fleet  of  transports  came  up  the  river  for  the  purpose  of 
conveying  General  Smith's  command  thence  to  New 
Orleans,  where  an  expedition  was  then  collecting  and 
preparing,  under  General  Canby,  for  a  general  move- 
ment against  Mobile  city. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  157 


CHAPTBE    IX. 

The  Ninety-fifth  embarks  on  the  "  Adam  Jacobs  "  for  New  Orleans 
— Fleet  proceeds  down  the  Tennessee  Eiver  —  Arrival  at  Cairo  — 
Depredations  committed  there  by  the  Troops  —  Voyage  down  the 
Mississippi  —  General  Smith' s  forces  disembark  at  Vicksburg  — 
Afterward  proceed  to  New  Orleans  —  Disagreeable  Camp  below 
the  City  on  the  old  Battle-fields  —  Regiment  goes  to  Dauphine 
Island  by  way  of  Lake  Pontchartrain  —  Arrival  at  the  Island  — 
Expedition  of  Colonel  Moore's  Brigade  to  Cedar  Point,  and  up 
the  west  side  of  the  Bay  toward  Mobile  —  Oysters  and  Musqui- 
toes  at  Cedar  Point  —  Advance  up  the  Country  —  How  the  Music 
was  used  to  deceive  the  Enemy  —  The  44th  Missouri  Band  —  Re- 
turn of  the  Brigade  to  Cedar  Point  —  Crosses  the  Bay,  and  rejoins 
16th  Army  Corps  at  Dauley's  Landing,  on  Fish  River —  General 
Canby's  Army  advances  on  Spanish  Fort  and  Blakely  —  Invest- 
ment of  both  Places  —  The  part  performed  by  the  Ninety- fifth  in 
the  Reduction  of  Spanish  Fort  —  Both  Strongholds  taken  by 
Assault  —  Fall  of  Mobile. 

ON  the  6th  day  of  February,  1865,  the  Ninety-fifth 
embarked  at  Eastport  on  the  steamer  "Adam  Jacobs," 
for  the  long  journey  to  New  Orleans.  All  the  troops 
were  aboard  their  respective  transports  by  evening,  and 
6  o'clock  the  following  morning  was  the  hour  set  for 
15 


158  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

departing.  Promptly  at  the  time  ordered,  the  long 
whistle  sounded  from  the  general's  flag  boat,  the  boats 
swung  out  into  the  stream,  and  following  each  other 
in  the  order  assigned,  steamed  down  the  Tennessee 
for  their  place  of  destination.  The  fleet  arrived  safely 
at  Paducah,  Ky.,  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  and  pro- 
ceeded down  the  Ohio  to  Cairo,  where  the  transports 
remained  until  the  10th,  taking  on  coal.  The  first 
division,  under  General  McArthur,  and  the  third, 
under  Colonel  Moore,  arrived  here  nearly  at  the  same 
time. 

Eegimental,  brigade  and  division  commanders  now 
experienced  much  difficulty  in  keeping  their  commands 
on  the  boats,  and  were  unable  to  prevent  the  commis- 
sion of  depredations  on  the  private  property  of  citi- 
zens, by  a  few  mischievous  and  unruly  soldiers.  It  is 
believed,  however,  that  the  Ninety-fifth  had  nothing  to 
do  with  these  troubles,  and  that  its  men  conducted 
themselves  while  at  Cairo  as  good  soldiers.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  the  81st  Illinois,  and  the  44th  Missouri 
infantry,  the  other  regiments  of  Colonel  Blanden's 
brigade,  whose  men  were  likewise  free  from  partici- 
pation in  the  misconduct  which  may  have  occurred 
while  the  boats  were  stopping  at  that  point 

At  five  o'clock  A.  M.,  February  10th,  the  fleet  was 
again  under  way,  and  moved  down  the  Mississippi, 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  159 

which  was  now  full  of  large  cakes  of  ice.  After 
getting  below  Columbus  the  ice  disappeared,  the 
weather  became  mild,  and  the  voyage  was  pleasant 
The  regiment  arrived  at  Memphis,  Feb.  llth,  and  on 
the  following  day  resumed  the  journey.  The  fleet 
reached  Yicksburg  on  the  13th,  and  landed  below  the 
city,  by  the  flats.  Instead  of  proceeding  directly  to 
New  Orleans,  orders  came  to  disembark  at  this  place, 
and  General  Smith,  leaving  his  command  at  Yicksburg, 
proceeded  to  New  Orleans,  ascertained  that  an  error 
had  been  made  in  transmitting  the  telegram,  and  that 
it  was  intended  his  troops  should  come  directly  to 
New  Orleans. 

Meanwhile,  the  regiments  remained  on  the  trans- 
ports at  Vicksburg  until  the  16th,  when  they  moved 
off  the  boats,  marched  out  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg, 
and  went  into  camp  near  the  "  four  mile  bridge,"  be- 
tween the  city  and  the  Big  Black  river.  Here  they 
remained  until  the  19th,  when  orders  came  from  Gen- 
eral Smith  to  strike  tents,  move  to  the  landing  at 
Vicksburg,  and  reembark  upon  the  same  transports, 
which  had  been  retained  until  General  Smith  could 
return  from  New  Orleans.  By  the  20th  everything 
was  ready  for  a  continuation  of  the  voyage.  The  2nd 
division,  under  command  of  General  Garrard,  which 
was  left  at  Eastport,  had  now  arrived,  and  at  4  o'clock 


160  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

A.  M.,  of  that  day,  the  whole  fleet  of  twenty-four 
transports,  conveying  General  Smith's  entire  com- 
mand, proceeded  down  the  river.  The  steamer  "  Adam 
Jacobs  "  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  with  the  Ninety-fifth, 
.February  21st,  and  landed  just  below  the  city.  The 
regiment  remained  on  the  steamer  until  the  following 
day,  when  it  disembarked  and  went  into  camp  several 
miles  below  the  city,  on  the  old  battle-fields  of  Jackson 
and  Packenham.  The  grounds  assigned  here  for 
camping  purposes  were  of  the  worst  character,  being 
low,  wet  and  muddy.  The  rainy  season  had  com- 
menced, and  it  was  almost  impossible  for  teams  or  men 
to  move  over  the  miry  ground.  It  was  the  most  disa- 
greeable encampment  the  regiment  ever  had  in  the 
service,  and  all  were  glad  when  the  order  came  to 
leave  it 

While  at  New  Orleans,  General  Smith's  command 
underwent  some  changes  in  its  name  and  organization. 
During  its  operations  in  the  Department  of  the  Cum- 
berland, at  Nashville,  and  throughout  the  subsequent 
campaign,  it  was  designated  as  the  Detachment  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee.  On  its  arrival  within  the 
Department  of  the  Gulf,  it  was  formed  into  the  16th 
Army  Corps,  Maj.  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  commanding,  and 
was  known  as  such  in  the  campaign  against  Mobile, 
and  until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  Ninety -fifth  re- 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  161 

mained  attached  to  the  2nd  brigade  of  Colonel  Moore's 
division,  and  other  regiments  were  assigned  to  the 
corps  at  New  Orleans,  making  it  a  very  large  and  effi- 
cient command. 

The  regiments  soon  received  orders  to  prepare  for 
another  active  campaign,  and  early  in  the  month  of 
March,  the  troops  began  moving,  some  by  the  river 
and  gulf,  and  others  by  way  of  Lake  Pontchartrain, 
to  Dauphine  island,  where  the  army,  under  General 
Canby,  was  assembling,  preparatory  to  the  general 
movement  up  the  bay  against  Mobile.  The  Ninety- 
fifth  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  that  point  of  rendezvous 
by  the  lake,  and  on  the  morning  of  March  llth,  it 
cheerfully  struck  tents  at  the  camp  below  New  Orleans, 
and  moved  over  to  the  old  race  course  between  the 
city  and  Lake  Pontchartrain,  where  it  was  directed  to 
obtain  transportation  and  proceed  directly  to  Dauphine 
island.  The  regiment  bivouacked  upon  the  track  of 
the  race  course,  which  was  perfectly  dry  and  clean,  and 
during  the  short  delay  here,  the  men  enjoyed  much 
more  real  comfort  than  they  had  experienced  in  the 
mud  pastures  below  the  city.  Four  companies  of  the 
Ninety-fifth,  F,  G,  H,  and  K,  were  here  detailed  to 
remain  and  accompany  the  transportation  of  the  divi- 
sion, and  reported  to  Lieut.  Nichols,  A.  A.  Q.  M.,  for 
that  duty.  On  the  13th  day  of  March,  the  remainder 


162  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

of  the  regiment,  six  companies,  embarked  at  the  Pont- 
chartrain  landing,  on  the  steamer  "  Warrior,"  and  in 
the  evening  of  the  same  day  started  on  the  voyage. 
Passing  through  lake  Borgne,  and  along  the  coast,  the 
steamer  arrived  safely  at  Grant's  Pass  on  the  evening 
of  the  14th,  where  she  anchored  for  the  night,  it  being 
a  difficult  place  to  navigate  in  the  darkness.  On  the 
following  morning  she  passed  safely  through,  and 
landed  at  Fort  Gaines,  Dauphine  island.  The  regi- 
ment disembarked  and  marched  down  the  beach  on 
the  south  side  of  the  island,  to  the  camp  assigned. 
This  was  the  healthiest  locality  which  could  have  been 
selected  for  the  encampment  of  troops.  The  men 
pitched  their  tents  upon  the  clean  sand,  which  was 
much  preferable  to  New  Orleans  mud,  were  invigorated 
by  the  sea  breezes,  which  came  constantly  from  the 
gulf,  and  fared  sumptuously  on  the  oysters  and  fish,  in 
which  the  island  abounded. 

At  Dauphine  island  changes  occurred  in  the  brigade 
and  division  organizations.  Brigadier  General  E.  A. 
Carr  assumed  command  of  Colonel  Moore's  divi- 
sion, and  the  latter  took  command  of  the  first  brigade . 
The  Ninety-fifth  was  transferred  to  it,  and  Colonel 
Blanden  was  relieved  as  commander  of  the  second 
brigade  by  Colonel  L.  M.  Ward,  of  the  14th  Wis- 
consin infantry.  Colonel  Blanden  had  been  com- 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  163 

manding  officer  of  the  brigade  ever  since  its  formation 
at  Nashville,  had  led  it  through  the  great  campaign 
against  Hood,  and.  through  all  its  subsequent  wander- 
ings, with  much  credit  to  himself  as  a  military  com- 
mander. Circumstances  of  rank,  such  as  frequently 
occur  in  the  army,  now  placed  him  once  more  in  com- 
mand of  his  regiment,  which,  for  a  long  time,  had 
been  ably  governed  by  Lieut.  Colonel  Avery. 

The  encampment  of  the  troops  on  this  healthy  and 
favorable  spot  was  to  be  short.  There  was  work  at 
hand,  and  active  operations  in  that  vicinity  were  soon 
to  commence.  Away  up  the  bay,  hid  among  her 
strongholds,  and  protected  by  fortifications,  forts  and 
torpedoes,  which  guarded  all  avenues  of  approach,  lay 
the  defiant  rebel  city,  which,  thus  far  in  the  war,  had 
eluded  the  visitation  and  grasp  of  the  Union  armies. 
Silently  she  awaited  the  bursting  of  the  storm  gather- 
ing at  her  doors,  and  in  the  stupendous  preparations 
culminating  around  her,  was  conscious  of  a  fate  similar 
to  that  which  had  befallen  her  rebellious  sister  cities, 
one  by  one,  all  along  the  Atlantic  coast. 

On  the  18th  day  of  March,  Colonel  Moore's  brigade 
was  ordered  to  cross  over  to  Cedar  Point,  located  oppo- 
site the  island  on  the  west  side  of  the  bay,  and  execute 
the  first  movement  in  the  plan  for  capturing  the  city 
of  Mobile.  The  Ninety-fifth  and  Seventy-second  nii- 


164  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

nois,  44th  Missouri,  and  33rd  Wisconsin  regiments, 
now  composed  the  brigade,  and  embarking  on  steamers 
near  the  Fort  Gaines  Landing,  proceeded  to  Cedar 
Point,  accompanied  by  one  section  of  artillery  and 
two  gunboats.  Colonel  Moore  had  instructions  to 
effect  a  landing,  advance  in  the  direction  of  Mobile, 
and  make  such  noise  and  demonstration  as  would  con- 
vey the  idea  that  the  whole  Union  army  was  approach- 
ing by  that  route. 

General  Canby  intended  this  as  a  feint  merely,  and 
during  its  execution  he  suddenly  transferred  the  13th 
and  16th  Army  Corps  (except  Colonel  Moore's  brigade) 
to  a  different  point,  and  assembled  them  near  Dauley's 
Landing,  on  the  Fish  river,  on  the  east  side  of  the  bay. 
From  this  place  the  real  and  important  advance  was 
to  be  made  against  Forts  Spanish  and  Blakely,  the 
formidable  outposts  to  Mobile,  and  the  keys  to  the 
possession  of  the  city  itsel£  At  the  same  time  a 
strong  column  of  white  and  colored  troops,  under 
General  Steele,  was  moving  from  Pensacola,  and 
sweeping  around  toward  the  same  points. 

The  force  sent  over  to  Cedar  Point  landed  without 
opposition,  though  on  our  approach  mounted  men 
were  seen  hastening  away  in  the  direction  of  Mobile. 
They  belonged  to  a  company  of  rebel  cavalry,  who 
were  lurking  in  this  vicinity,  watching  the  movements 
of  the  Federal  army. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTBY  VOLUNTEERS.  165 

Cedar  Point  was  in  plain  sight  of  Dauphine  island, 
had  been  formerly  used  as  a  place  of  encampment  for 
rebel  troops,  and  was  still  a  point  of  military  observa- 
tion, where  the  enemy's  scouts  could  watch  from  a 
look-out  the  Federal  operations  at  the  mouth  of  the 
bay,  and  whence  they  could  quickly  send  intelligence 
to  their  authorities  at  Mobile.  Important  batteries  had 
also  been  erected  here  in  a  former  day  by  the  rebels, 
intended  to  command  Grant's  Pass,  but  they  had  been 
evacuated  since  the  great  victory  of  Admiral  Farragut, 
in  Mobile  bay,  in  the  summer  of  1864.  There  was  no 
dirt  soil  in  this  locality,  and  these  rebel  forts  were  con- 
structed entirely  with  oyster  shells,  which  abounded 
here  in  superfluous  quantities.  The  oyster-shell  forti- 
fications displayed  something  of  a  Yankee  ingenuity, 
and  to  us  who  were  accustomed  to  a  different  material, 
presented  a  novel  and  interesting  appearance.  The 
Ninety -fifth  finished  unloading  from  the  steamer  "Groes- 
beck,"  at  Cedar  Point,  in  the  afternoon  of  March  18th, 
meeting  with  some  difficulty  in  getting  ashore  on  the 
pier,  which  extended  into  the  bay,  and  which  had  been 
partially  destroyed  by  the  enemy  in  anticipation  of 
the  present  movement. 

The  Seventy-second  Illinois  was  the  first  regiment 
to  go  ashore,  and  just  as  the  head  of  the  regiment  was 
stepping  from  the  wharf,  several  large  torpedoes  were 


166  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY^TIFTH 

found  concealed  in  good  position*  for  doing  harm,  but 
were  discovered  in  time  to  prevent  catastrophe  to  the 
command. 

The  Ninety-fifth  camped  that  night  on  the  point 
near  the  rebel  look-out,  and  was  ordered  to  be  ready 
for  a  forward  movement  on  the  following  day.  The 
regiments  were  instructed  to  beat  tattoo  several  times 
each,  which  would  give  the  impression  that  a  large 
Federal  force  had  landed.  The  troops  were  now  camped 
by  the  celebrated  Cedar  Point  oyster-beds,  and  soon 
after  landing  here  the  surf  was  alive  with  wading  sol- 
diers, skirmishing  not  with  rebels,  but  after  oysters,  of 
which  they  brought  skiffs-full  to  the  shore,  and  fur- 
nished the  camps  with  large  supplies  of  this  luxurious 
article  of  food. 

While  the  troops  fared  thus  sumptuously  on  oysters 
during  the  brief  halt  made  at  Cedar  Point,  they  also 
suffered  greatly  from  the  presence  of  annoying  swarms 
of  musquitoes.  The  soldiers  had  all  seen  musquitoes 
before,  during  the  service,  but  never  had  they  experi- 
enced such  large-sized,  ravenous  insects  of  this  nature, 
as  these  at  Cedar  Point  Oysters  and  musquitoes 
seemed  to  be  the  chief  products  of  the  locality,  and 
the  abundance  and  luxury  of  the  one  were  equaled 
only  by  the  multitudes  and  inflictions  of  the  other. 
While  the  soldiers  were  satisfying  their  keen  appetites 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  167 

as  to  oysters,  the  musquitoes  were  busy  satisfying  theirs 
as  to  soldiers ;  and  while  the  boys  in  blue  were  feast- 
ing upon,  and  filling  themselves  with,  the  delectable 
food,  these  pestiferous  insects  were  being  filled  with 
the  blood  of  the  intruding  Yankees.  These  favorable 
and  unfavorable  circumstances  commingled,  did  not 
continue  long,  however,  and  at  an  early  hour  on  the 
following  day,  March  19th,  the  brigade  moved  forward 
toward  Mobile.  The  Ninety-fifth  held  the  advance  of 
the  column,  and  after  proceeding  a  short  distance,  en- 
countered the  company  of  rebel  cavalry,  who  had  been 
watching  the  movements  at  Cedar  Point  Company 
"A,"  of  the  Ninety-fifth,  in  charge  of  Lieut.  Boying- 
ton,  were  immediately  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and 
the  enemy  retreated  hastily. 

The  march  was  continued  until  dusk,  when  the 
regiments  camped,  in  line  of  battle,  in  the  thick  pine 
woods  several  miles  from  Cedar  Point  Orders  were 
here  issued  for  the  regimental  bands  to  beat  three 
tattoos  each,  that  evening,  as  well  as  a  corresponding 
number  of  reveilles  on  the  following  morning,  varying 
the  tunes  each  time,  in  order  to  accomplish  the  decep- 
tion intended.  If  this  piece  of  strategy  availed  any- 
thing, it  must  have  convinced  the  enemy  that  a  large 
force  of  twelve  regiments  was  approaching  Mobile, 
whereas  there  were  only  four.  An  incident  occurred 


168  HISTOKY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

here,  however,  which  may. have  unwittingly  carried 
information  to  the  enemy  of  the  real  design  of  the 
expedition.  The  44th  Missouri  had  but  recently 
formed  a  regimental  drum  corps,  and  the  members 
composing  it  were  unskilled  in  the  art  of  blowing  fifes 
and  beating  drums.  On  account  of  inexperience,  their 
variety  of  tunes  was  necessarily  small.  Whenever 
they  attempted  the  musical  feat  of  executing  the  vari- 
ous changes  of  reveille  or  tattoo,  the  invariable  result 
was  a  monotonous,  discordant  production,  little  worthy 
of  the  name  of  music.  If  you  listened  to  them  once, 
you  could  afterward  easily  detect  them  among  a  thou- 
sand well-trained  bands.  For  this  reason  the  drum 
corps  of  the  44th  was.  not  the  best  possible  instrument 
with  which  to  deceive  the  enemy  in  the  manner  pro- 
posed. At  the  hour  designated  for  beating  tattoo  all  the 
regiments  played  it  through  once,  the  musicians  of  the 
44th  performing  it  in  their  characteristic  style.  The 
second  and  third  times,  the  tunes  were  varied  by  the 
other  regiments,  and  one  would  have  supposed  that 
there  were  really  so  many  more  regiments  in  the  Fed- 
eral encampment  When,  however,  the  44th  struck 
up  its  second  tattoo,  and  attempted  by  continued  mu- 
sical demonstrations  to  represent  another  regiment,  the 
failure  was  complete,  and  the  boys  throughout  the 
different  camps,  unable  to  restrain  themselves,  burst 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  169 

forth  in  shouts  of  irrepressible  laughter,  making  the 
woods  ring  for  a  long  distance  around.  Thus  this 
event,  which  furnished  the  men  with  so  much  merri- 
ment, may  possibly  have  disclosed  to  the  rebels  the 
real  character  of  the  present  expedition. 

On  the  next  day  the  brigade  moved  forward  a  few 
miles  farther,  to  a  small  creek,  where  more  torpedoes 
were  found,  and  the  artillery  having  made  considerable 
noise  in  shelling  the  woods  in  front,  the  advance  on 
Mobile  by  this  route  was  discontinued,  and  the  troops 
countermarched  and  returned  to  camp  two  miles  from 
Cedar  Point,  where  they  remained  during  the  21st.  In 
the  afternoon  of  the  22nd,  the  Ninety-fifth  embarked 
at  Cedar  Point,  on  the  gunboat  No.  48,  crossed  the 
foot  of  Mobile  bay,  and  anchored  that  night  near  the 
mouth  of  Fish  river,  parly  on  the  morning  of  the 
23rd,  the  boats  conveying  Colonel  Moore's  brigade 
passed  through  Weeks'  bay,  a  muddy  and  shallow 
body  of  water,  and  proceeded  up  Fish  river  eight  miles, 
to  near  Dauley's  Landing,  where  General  Canby's  army 
was  now  assembling.  General  Smith's  corps  had  all 
arrived,  and  the  13th,  under  General  Granger,  appeared 
at  that  point  nearly  at  the  same  time.  The  Ninety- 
fifth  was  in  camp  at  Dauley's  Landing  only  one  day, 
and  at  an  early  hour  on  the  25th  of  March,  both  corps, 
led  by  General  Canby  in  person,  began  the  grand  move- 


170  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

ment  forward  toward  Forts  Spanish  and  Blakely.  The 
former  was  about  eighteen  miles  distant,  the  latter 
twenty-three.  The  first  day's  march  was  ten  miles,  to 
Deer  Park,  where  the  troops  halted  for  the  night,  and 
fortified,  the  advance  divisions  being  required  each 
night  to  throw  up  a  line  of  works  in  their  respective 
fronts.  On  the  26th  the  column  again  pressed  onward, 
and  leaving  Spanish  Fort  a  short  distance  to  the  left, 
camped  that  night  within  a  few  miles  of  Blakely. 
This  was  a  feint,  from  which  the  enemy  supposed  that 
Blakely  was  to  be  immediately  attacked,  whereas 
Spanish  Fort  was  to  receive  the  first  attention.  Ac- 
cordingly, on  the  morning  of  March  27th,  the  Union 
camps  were  aroused  at  an  early  hour,  and  the  army, 
turning  suddenly  back,  swept  directly  across  to  Span- 
ish Fort  Brigadier  General  Carr's  divison.  of  the  16th 
Army  Corps,  occupied  the  advance  of  the  whole  army, 
and  were  the  first  troops  brought  into  action  on  this 
day.  The  rebel  stronghold  was  only  a  short  distance 
from  the  Federal  encampment  of  the  previous  night 
As  the  troops  now  approached  it,  heavy  skirmishing 
commenced  at  the  front,  and  the  enemy  appeared  in 
forca  Both  corps  were  immediately  deployed  for  a 
general  engagement,  and  pushed  forward  in  line  of 
battle,  through  the  thick  woods,  across  ravines  and 
over  hills,  the  16th  Corps  holding  the  right,  and  the 
13th  the  left  of  the  Union  army. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  171 

Companies  "  A  "  and  "  D  "  were  thrown  out  as  skir- 
mishers for  the  Ninety-fifth,  and  took  active  part  in 
driving  the  rebels  hastily  back  into  their  rifle-pits  and 
fortifications.  . 

The  artillery  opened  fiercely  on  both  sides,  and  soon 
the  battle  raged  furiously  all  along  the  lines.  By  noon 
of  the  27th,  the  Federal  army  had  advanced  to  within 
close  range  of  the  enemy's  main  works,  and  the  line 
of  investment  around  Spanish  Fort,  from  the  bay  above 
to  the  bay  below  it,  was  complete. 

As  Colonel  Blanden's  official  report  shows  the  im- 
portant part  taken  by  the  Ninety-fifth,  in  the  siege 
which  followed,  and  which  was  prosecuted  vigorously 
from  March  27th,  the  day  of  investment,  until  April 
8th,  when  the  stronghold  was  taken  by  assault,  and  as 
the  commissioned  officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the 
regiment  have  never  had  an  opportunity  of  reading 
the  regimental  report  of  their  doings  and  conduct 
during  this  sharp  and  decisive  contest,  I  have  thought 
it  proper  to  incorporate  the  same  herein  for  their 
perusal  and  benefit  It  is  as  follows : 


172  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

"  Head-quarters  95th  Eegt.  111.  Inft'ry  Vols.;  1st  Brigade,  3rd  Dl 
16th  Army  Corps,  near  Blakely,  Ala.,  April  10th,  1865. 


"SIR, 

"I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  opera- 
tions of  my  command  during  the  siege  of  Spanish  Fort.  On  the 
morning  of  March  27th,  when  the  brigade  line  of  battle  was  first 
formed,  I  threw  out  my  skirmishers,  and  the  regiment  immediately- 
moved  forward,  skirmishing  sharply  with  the  enemy,  and  driving 
him  back  toward  his  works.  By  noon  of  the  same  day,  my  regi- 
ment advanced  to  within  three  hundred  yards  of  his  main  line  of 
works,  and  took  position  nearly  in  front  of  the  "  Red  and  "White  ' 1 
forts,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  but  without 
serious  loss  or  injury  among  my  men. 

' '  My  skirmishers  were  active  during  the  remainder  of  the  day, 
and  at  dusk,  in  compliance  with  orders  from  superior  head- quarters, 
I  set  my  men  at  work  building  the  first  line  of  works.  The  regi- 
ment occupied  these  on  the  28th.  I  then  commenced  digging  a  sap 
from  this  line  across  a  ravine  in  my  front,  and  by  the  29th,  my  rifle- 
pits  were  completed  to  the  opposite  ridge,  where  the  sharpshooters 
now  advanced  to  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  forts, 
compelled  the  enemy's  gunners  to  close  up  the  port  holes  with 
gabions  and  sand-bags,  thus  silencing  effectually  the  heavy  guns 
there  mounted.  After  this,  my  command  was  busily  employed, 
day  and  night,  advancing  our  rifle-pits,  under  the  constant  fire  of 
the  rebel  sharpshooters,  and  by  April  8th,  when  occurred  the  final 
bombardment  and  assault  by  our  forces,  my  trenches  had  been  car- 
ried to  within  forty  yards  of  the  opposing  line. 

' '  During  the  furious  bombardment  opened  by  our  artillery  along 
the  whole  line,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  8th,  my  regi- 
ment, with  the  exception  of  heavy  details  which  were  busy  in  front 
as  sharpshooters  and  fatigue  men,  remained  in  camp,  no  order  to  the 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  173 

contrary  having  been  received,  'until  the  rapid  firing  commenced  on 
the  extreme  right  of  the  whole  Federal  line  held  by  Colonel  Geddes1 
brigade  of  this  division.  In  accordance  with  orders,  I  then  formed 
my  command  in  line,  moved  it  at  once  into  my  advanced  rifle-pits, 
raised  the  regimental  colors  over  the  works,  and  held  my  men  in 
readiness  for  any  movement.  At  this  time  the  enemy,  who  had 
long  been  silent  with  his  artillery,  now  expecting  a  general  charge, 
opened  with  his  heavy  guns,  and  the  cannonading  became  deafening 
and  terrible.  Having  remained  here  between  the  artillery  fires  of 
both  armies  nearly  an  hour,  I  was  ordered  to  move  over  to  the 
support  of  Colonel  Geddea'  brigade,  then  charging  the  extreme  left 
of  the  enemy's  works,  which  it  gallantly  carried.  I  arrived  at  the 
point  designated  in  time  to  cooperate,  and  remained  in  position  there 
until  late  in  the  evening,  when  I  received  orders  to  move  back  to 
my  own  rifle-pits.  I  did  so  on  the  double-quick,  and  observing  that 
Colonel  Geddes'  troops  were  advancing  from  the  point  already 
gained  up  the  line  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  inside  of  them,  I  im- 
mediately led  my  regiment  over  the  rifle-pits  in  my  own  front,  and 
tearing  away  the  cJieveaux  de  frise  in  our  course,  charged  the  ' '  Red 
and  White  ' '  forts. 

There  were  no  other  Federal  forces  preceding  my  command  in  the 
occupation  of  these  works,  and  I  pushed  my  line  forward  toward 
the  bay,  halting  at  the  place  where  the  brigade  formed  its  line 
after  the  assault.  I  afterward  advanced  to  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  bay,  company  "  B  "  being  deployed  as  skirmishers,  took 
possession  of  Fort  Alexis,  and  placed  proper  guards  over  all  heavy 
guns  in  that  vicinity.  In  compliance  with  orders  received  long 
after  midnight,  I  moved  my  regiment  back  to  camp,  where  it 
arrived  about  4  A.  M.,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  having  captured 
two  commissioned  officers  and  thirty  privates,  prisoners  of  war, 
and  a  large  amount  of  artillery.  The  men  generally  returned  to 

16 


174  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

camp  that  night,  well  loaded  with  flour,  bacon,  tobacco,  etc.,  found 
in  a  rebel  commissary  building,  which  had  been  hastily  evacuated. 
"  In  concluding  this  report,  I  deem  it  but  due  to  the  commissioned 
officers  and  enlisted  men  of  my  command,  to  praise  them  for  the 
brave,  efficient  and  persevering  manner  in  which  they  have  con- 
ducted themselves  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  investment. 
Where  so  many  have  performed  their  arduous  duties  so  equally 
well,  it  is  invidious  to  notice  any  distinctions  of  merit,  and  I  have 
none  to  make..  Throughout  the  whole  siege,  they  have  labored 
almost  unceasingly,  by  day  and  night,  with  pick  and  spade,  as  well  as 
with  arms,  all  intent  upon  accomplishing  the  common  object. 

"  I  herewith  enclose  a  list  of  casualties  occurring  in  my  command 
during  the  siege  just  closed. 
' '  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

'•L'.  BLANDEN, 

"  Col.  Cornd'g  Reg't. 
"CAPT.  GEO.  B.  CARTER, 

"A.  A.  A.  Gen1!, 
"  1st  Brig.  3rd  Div.  16th  Army  Corps." 

Thus,  after  a  sharp  contest  of  thirteen  clays,  one  of 
the  most  important  defenses  of  Mobile,  with  four  or 
five  hundred  prisoners  and  a  large  amount  of  artillery 
and  small  arms,  fell  into  Union  hands.  Considering 
the  space  of  time  employed  in  reducing  the  strong- 
hold, the  investment  of  this  place  was  fully  equal  to 
that  of  Vicksburg,  though  at  no  time  was  it  so  com- 
plete. 

The   rebel  artillery  was  handled   with  great  skill, 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  175 

and  was  pronounced  more  effective  than  any  ever 
before  experienced  in  such  operations. 

In  addition  to  their  direct  fire  from  formidable  land 
batteries,  during  most  of  the  time  the  water  battery, 
known  as  Fort  Eugee,  located  within  close  range^upon 
an  island  at  the  head  of  the  bay,  and  their  gunboats, 
were  continually  playing  upon  the  Union  lines,  having 
from  that  direction  an  annoying  enfilading  fire,  to 
which  the  right  of  the  Federal  army  was  particularly 
exposed.  General  Canby  caused  a  battery  of  eight 
sixty-four  pounders  to  be  erected  in  a  position  com- 
manding Fort  Eugee,  and  in  a  short  time  her  guns 
were  silenced,  and  the  gunboats  driven  farther  up  the 
bay,  where  they  could  do  no  harm. 

While  the  investment  of  Spanish  Fort  was  pro- 
gressing, a  portion  of  the  besieging  army,  the  2nd 
division  of  the  16th,  and  the  1st  division  of  the  13th 
Corps,  were  withdrawn  and  sent  to  reenforce  the  troops 
under  General  Steele,  who  had  arrived  from  Pensacola, 
and  had  laid  siege  to  Fort  Blakely.  After  the  fall  of 
Spanish  Fort,  Blakely  was  the  only  remaining  obstacle 
to  the  possession  of  Mobile  city,  and  on  the  9th  of 
April  a  general  assault  was  ordered  upon  that  place. 
The  troops  which  had  taken  Spanish  Fort  the  night 
previous/  were  at  once  concentrated  near  there  with 
instructions  to  act  as  a  reserve  to  the  charging  columns. 


176  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

At  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  the 
Ninety-fifth  was  on  its  way  for  Blakely,  arrived  near 
there  at  noon  and  bivouacked  in  the  reserve  line  of 
battle.  Soon  afterward  the  general  assault  commenced, 
and  the  fort  was  carried  by  storm  without  requiring 
assistance  from  the  reserve  troops.  Between  two  and 
three  thousand  prisoners  were  here  captured,  and 
another  large  quantity  of  artillery  and  small  arms. 

These  events,  as  predicted,  determined  the  fate  of 
Mobile.  Forts  Spanish  and  Blakely  were  her  great 
points  of  guard,  and  when  they  succumbed  she  must 
likewise  surrender.  After  they  were  taken,  the  Union 
iron  clads  could  move  up  the  bay  to  a  close  range,  and 
reduce  her  to  ashes  in  case  she  attempted  to  hold  out 
longer.  But  she  made  no  farther  efforts  at  resistance, 
and  on  the  following  day  after  the  capture  of  Blakely, 
the  mayor  of  the  city  surrendered  it  to  the  military 
authorities  of  the  United  States.  It  was  occupied  by 
a  portion  of  the  13th  Army  Corps,  and  soon  the  stars 
and  stripes  floated  in  triumph  over  the  "  Bay  City  of 
the  South,"  and  all  her  contiguous  forts  and  strong 
places. 

The  campaign  against  Mobile  was  now  at  a  close, 
and  the  presence  of  the  16th  Army  Corps,  which  had 
contributed  so  materially  to  crown  the  Federal  arms 
with  recent  successes,  was  immediately  required  in 
another  portion  of  Alabama. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNEEERS.  177 


CHAPTEE   X. 

The  16th  Army  Corps  ordered  to  Montgomery,  Alabama  —  Rumors 
received  before  leaving  Blakely,  of  General  Grant's  victories  in 
the  East  —  The  suspicion  with  which  the  Ninety- fifth  received 
flying  reports,  since  they  were  deceived  at  ' '  Big  Sandy' '  —  Gen- 
eral Grant's  success  confirmed  —  Enthusiasm  with  which  the 
Intelligence  was  received  by  the  Regiments  —  The  Ninety-fifth 
cheer  lustily  —  The  March  through  the  Pine  Forests  —  Guide- 
boards  —  A  Rattlesnake  Affair  —  Arrival  at  Greenville  —  The 
Ninety-fifth  garrison  the  Town  —  Feelings  of  the  Inhabitants  — 
A  Paper  published  by  the  Soldiers  —  March  continued  to  Mont- 
gomery—  Arrival  there  —  General  Wilson's  Raid  through  this 
Section  —  Tooops  camp  around  the  City  —  Rebel  paroled  Soldiers 
from  the  Eastern  Armies  pass  through  —  Beauregard,  Bragg, 
Pillow,  Semmes  —  Dick  Taylor  and  Kirby  Smith  surrender  —  The 
Rebellion  at  an  end  —  Drills  resumed  by  the  Ninety-fifth  —  What 
General  A.  J.  Smith  thought  of  their  Dress  Parade  —  Anecdote 
of  the  "  Pointer  Dog,"  and  how  Colonel  Blanden  came  by  it  — 
Order  from  the  War  Department  to  Muster  out  Troops  —  The  Men 
anxious  to  get  Home  —  The  16th  Corps  retained  for  Garrison  Duty 
in  Northern  Alabama. 

DIRECTLY  after  the    capture  of  Mobile,   the   16th 
Army  Corps  received  orders  to  proceed  by  land  to 


178  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

Montgomery,  some  two  hundred  miles  distant,  and  on 
the  18th  day  of  April  it  moved  out  from  near  Blakely 
for  a  long  march  to  the  first  capitol  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy.  The  route  taken  was  over  the  old  post 
line,  traveled  in  times  of  peace,  and  lay  through  a 
dreary  and  almost  interminable  forest  of  pines,  for 
which  this  section  of  country  is  celebrated. 

Before  leaving  Blakely,  vague  rumors  had  reached 
us  of  the  great  battles  between  Grant  and  Lee,  at  and 
around  Richmond,  and  a  report  circulated  that  the 
greatest  rebel  chieftain  had  surrendered  with  his  entire 
army  to  the  Lieutenant  General  of  the  Federal  armies. 
Full  confidence,  however,  was  not  placed  in  these 
flying  rumors,  and  the  16th  Corps  was  well  on  its  way 
into  the  interior  of  the  State,  when  news  was  brought 
by  a  courier  from  General  Canby,  at  Mobile,  confirm- 
ing beyond  doubt  the  glorious  successes  of  the  armies 
under  General  Grant,  the  capture  of  Richmond,  and 
the  entire  overthrow  of  the  rebellion  in  the  East  The 
reliability  of  this  intelligence  was  strengthened  from 
the  fact  that  General  Smith,  immediately  on  its  recep- 
tion, caused  the  information  to  be  officially  announced 
to  each  regiment  of  his  command,  and  in  response,  the 
men  made  the  silent  old  pine  forests  resound  with  their 
vociferous  and  oft-repeated  cheers.  It  was  on  the  19th 
day  of  April  that  the  great  news  was  read  to  the 
Ninety -fifth,  during  a  halt  made  for  that  purpose. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  179 

Now  this  regiment  had,  for  a  long  time,  and  for 
good  reason,  been  much  opposed  to  cheering  at  reports 
of  this  nature,  which  were  often  originated  and  set 
afloat  in  camp,  and  on  the  march,  by  mischievous 
soldiers. 

The  members  of  the  Ninety-fifth  had,  on  a  former 
occasion  during  the  war,  during  the  celebrated 
march  from  Grand  Gu]f  to  the  rear  .  of  Vieksburg, 
cheered  themselves  hoarse  over  the  premature  news 
received  and  announced  at  Big  Sandy,  that  Richmond 
had  fallen  ;  and  ever  since  that  well-remembered  time, 
each  man  of  the  organization  had  vowed  that  he  would 
never  again  be  inveigled  into  an  expression  of  applause 
for  any  man,  or  any  thing,  or  any  event,  until  he 
should  first  be  satisfied  as  to  the  reliability  of  what  he 
was  applauding.  Many  times,  therefore,  when  the 
other  regiments  would  raise  a  shout  on  the  march  or 
in  camp,  at  some  supposed  occurrence,  the  Ninety-fifth 
uniformly  maintained  silence, -and  the  reminiscence  of 
"Big  Sandy"  taught  them  better  than  to  strain  their 
lungs  by  useless  and  unrequited  excitement. 

But  when  this  important  intelligence,  which  had 
been  whispered  at  Blakely,  was  now  confirmed  by  an 
official  dispatch  from  General  Canby,  who  had  received 
it  direct  from  the  War  Department,  the  regiment,  no 
longer  doubting  its  truthfulness,  broke  over  its  long- 


180  HISTORY   OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

established  rule  of  taciturnity,  and  sent  up  such  a  suc- 
cession of  deafening  cheers  as  the  great  occasion 
demanded. 

The  country  through  which  this  march  was  made, 
was  the  poorest  portion  of  Alabama,  only  slightly 
cultivated  in  places  few  and  far  between,  very  sparsely 
inhabited  by  a  few  "  poor  whites,"  and  was  nothing 
but  one  vast,  unbroken  pinery  and  solitude,  for  the 
distance  of  more  than  a  hundred  miles  after  leaving 
Blakely.  The  distance  to  be  marched  was  nearly  two 
hundred  miles,  the  weather  was  hot,  the  roads  were 
hard  and  dusty,  and  many  of  the  men  were  destined 
to  be  afflicted  with  sore  feet  before  arriving  at  the 
journey's  end. 

It  was  reported  at  first  that  the  troops  would  pass 
through  Selma,  and  as  the  regiments  were  toiling 
along  one  day,  some  waggish  soldier  had  posted  a  sign 
on  a  tree,  where  all  passers-by  could  easily  read  it, 
bearing  the  following  inscription :  "  To  Selma,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles,  sore  feet  or  no  sore  feet"  which 
the  boys  took  as  a  good  joke,  but  believed  that  the 
sentiment  of  their  facetious  friend  contained  much 
more  solemn  truth  than  poetry.  Still  farther  on, 
another  pioneer  guide-board  appeared  in  conspicuous 
position,  having  this  announcement :  "To  good  living, 
one  hundred  and  ten  miles,"  and  the  scarcity  of 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  181 

chickens,  pigs,  and  provisions  of  all  kinds  in  this 
vicinity,  and  the  abundance  in  which  they  were  subse- 
quently found,  corroborated  the  entire  truthfulness  of 
the  witticism. 

Yet  the  men  by  no  means  suffered  for  want  of 
plenty  to  eat,  as  a  large  wagon  train  followed  the 
army,  loaded  with  a  sufficient  supply  of  rations. 

During  the  march  through  this  pine  region,  one 
company  of  the  Ninety-fifth  decided  that  in  the  ab  - 
sence  of  the  luxuries  commonly  found  along  the  route 
of  such  expeditions,  they  would  partake  of  a  rare 
article  of  food  which  came  into  their  possession  in  the 
following  manner :  the  44th  Missouri  Infantry,  after 
getting  into  camp  one  evening,  had  slain  a  huge  rattle- 
snake, which  measured  full  six  feet  in  length,  and 
whose  tail  contained  a  dozen  rattles.  It  was  a  mon  - 
strous  reptile,  fat,  sleek  and  scaly,  and  its  appearance 
demonstrated  fully  that  if  human  beings  could  not 
find  enough  in  that  barren  country  to  grow  fat  on, 
rattlesnakes  could.  The  company  of  the  Ninety-fifth, 
above  referred  to,  procured  the  snake  from  the  44th 
Missouri,  for  the  purpose  of  trying  his  fat  and  making 
a  meal  out  of  his  flesh.  Before  sleeping  that  night  it 
was  served  up  for  their  supper,  and  was  declared  the 
most  delicious  repast  they  had  partaken  of  for  a  long 
time! 

17 


182  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

After  the  march  had  been  continued  for  a  number 
of  days  through  the  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  the 
army  entered  a  more  open  and  cultivated  country, 
which  presented  many  more  evidences  of  cultivation 
and  civilization  than  that  through  which  it  had  been 
passing.  The  inhabitants  along  the  line  of  march  ap- 
peared more  intelligent  than  the  few  denizens  of  the 
pine  forests,  whom  we  had  occasionally  met  with  since 
leaving  Blakely.  Having  heard  of  the  approaching 
Federal  column,  they  now,  on  our  arrival,  professed 
loyalty,  and  in  few  instances  displayed  the  American" 
flag  from  their  residences.  At  almost  every  house  a 
white  flag  appeared,  which  denoted  submission  and 
friendship  on  the  part  of  the  occupants,  and  claimed 
protection  for  their  premises.  At  the  residence  of  one 
old  lady,  who  appeared  very  patriotic,  was  to  be  seen 
hung  up  over  her  doorway  the  following  device,  printed 
in  large,  though  rough,  unsymmetrical  letters :  "  The 
United  States  of  America  forever,"  and  as  the  Ninety- 
fifth  passed  by,  the  band,  at  her  request,  struck  up 
"  Yankee  Doodle,"  which  seemed  to  please  the  aged 
matron  exceedingly,  for  she  had  not  heard  that  stirring 
national  air  in  'many  a  year,  and,  perchance,  never 
before  in  her  life. 

On  the  21st  day  of  April,  the  advance  of  General 
Smith's  command   arrived  at  Greenville,   formerly  a 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  183 

thriving  and  beautiful  village,  forty-three  miles  from 
Montgomery.  The  Ninety -fifth  was  the  first  regiment 
to  enter  the  town,  and  was  assigned  to  perform  all  the 
provost  duty  therein,  while  the  army  halted  and  rested 
for  a  day  near  that  place. 

Much  anxiety  and  fear  was  manifested  on  the  part 
of  the  citizens,  as  the  regiment  took  possession  of  the 
village,  and  quartered'  itself  in  the  most  important 
parts  of  it.  The  women  cried,  and  supposed  we  had 
come  to  burn  and  sack  the  place.  They  soon  had 
occasion  to  change  their  opinions,  as  guards  were  at 
once  posted  at  each  dwelling-house,  order  prevailed 
everywhere,  and  the  timid  inhabitants  of  Greenville, 
in  a  short  time,  acknowledged  that  they  had  never 
before  during  the  war  been  so  well  protected,  had 
never  experienced  such  peace  and  safety  as  now  reigned 
in  their  midst.  They  began  to  look  upon  the  Yankee 
soldier  with  a  more  favorable  opinion  than  they  had 
before  entertained  of  him  from  hearsay,  and  agreed 
that  he  was  not  such  a  fearful  and  destructive  beast  as 
had  often  been  falsely  represented. 

The  people  were  slow  to  believe  the  great  news  we 
brought  concerning  the  capture  of  Eichmond  and  the 
surrender  of  Lee's  and  Johnston's  armies.  They 
deemed  it  incredible  and  impossible,  but  after  the  sol- 
diers, by  General  Smith's  order,  took  possession  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Greenville  Observer  printing  office,  and  published  the 
whole  official  correspondence  which  had  occurred  be- 
tween Generals  Grant  and  Lee,  then  their  confidence 
and  belief  in  the  safety  and  success  of  their  cause 
subsided,  and  they  unwillingly  accepted  the  truth  that 
the  great  armies  of  the  rebellion  were  fast  disbanding, 
and  that  the  last  days  of  their  attempted  Southern 
Confederacy  had  indeed  come.  • 

While  the  army  was  resting  at  Greenville,  General 
Grierson's  cavalry  arrived,  and  brought  news  fully  con- 
firming and  placing  beyond  possibility  of  doubt  the 
success  of  the  national  arms  at  all  points,  which  insured 
the  speedy  return  of  peace  to  the  land.  On  the  23rd 
day  of  April  the  troops  moved  forward  now  through  a 
more  open  and  much  finer  country  than  heretofore,  and 
arrived  at  Montgomery  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month, 
having  performed  the  whole  journey  from  Blakely  in 
thirteen  days.  The  Ninety-fifth  was  the  second  regi- 
ment in  the  advance,  and  as  the  army  marched  through 
the  city,  with  banners  unfurled  and  music  playing  the 
national  airs,  the  citizens  gathered  along  the  streets,  to 
gaze  at  the  first  Federal  infantry  troops  that  had  ever 
penetrated  so  far  in  that  direction.  General  Wilson 
had  made  his  celebrated  cavalry  raid  through  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country  a  few  weeks  previous,  had  swept 
through  the  important  rebel  posts  of  Selma  and  Mont- 


.ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  185 

gomery,  and  onward  to  Columbus  and  Macon,  Georgia, 
destroying  all  works,  buildings  and  supplies  used  in 
the  interests  of  the  rebellion,  cutting  important  railroad 
communications  and  making  his  whole  triumphant 
march  a  line  of  continuous  devastation.  In  the  import- 
ant cities  of  Selma,  Montgomery,  Columbus  and  Ma- 
con,  and  at  many  intervening  points,  he  and  his  men 
left  numerous  evidences  of  the  hurtful  manner  in 
which  they  had  dealt  with  rebellion  in  that  portion  of 
the  Confederacy.  They  performed  their  work  thor- 
oughly and  speedily,  and  truthful  history  will  treat 
this  grand  cavalry  movement  as  one  of  the  boldest, 
most  successful  and  most  important  undertakings  of 
the  war. 

General  Smith's  forces,  therefore,  on  arriving  at 
Montgomery,  met  with  no  opposition.  Everything 
had  been  well  attended  to  by  Wilson  beforehand.  He 
had  stricken  the  people  with  terror,  and  cowed  them 
into  submission ;  they  had  already  experienced  suffi- 
cient effects  of  war  in  endeavoring  to  resist  his  advance, 
and  no  effort  was  now  made  to  prevent  the  16th  Army 
Corps  from  occupying  the  city,  and,  with  it,  all  of 
Northern  Alabama.  The  various  regiments  went  into 
camps  assigned  near  the  city,  all  tired  and  sore-footed, 
and  thankful  to  have  reached  once  more  a  permanent 
resting-place.  Soon  after  arriving  here,  large  numbers 


186  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH  . 

of  paroled  prisoners  of  war  from  Lee's  and  Joan  ston's 
armies  began  passing  through  Montgomery,  seeking 
their  respective  homes.  Day  after  day  a  continuous 
stream  of  Southern  officers  and  enlisted  men,  who, 
during  the  past  four  years  had  been  fighting  for,  and 
endeavoring  to  maintain,  a  causeless  rebellion,  were 
now  coming  back,  defeated,  crest-fallen,  satisfied  with 
war,  glad  that  it  was  ended,  and  apparently  no  longer 
of  rebellious  spirit.  Among  them  were  such  noted 
individuals  as  Beauregard,  Bragg,  Pillow,  Admiral 
Semmes,  and  others,  not  now  leading  back  large  and 
well-organized  armies,  nor  accompanying  them  from 
victorious  battle-fields  to  the  enjoyment  of  an  accom- 
plished rebellion,  but  returning  disappointed  and  un- 
attended to  their  homes,  where,  during  the  remainder 
of  their  lives',  they  are  to  experience  that  ignominy 
and  shame  which  will  ever  attach  to  them  as  original 
and  persistent  traitors  to  their  country. 

Soon  after  the  capitulation  of  Lee  and  Johnston  in 
the  East,  came  the  intelligence  that  Dick  Taylor  had 
surrendered  his  Department  to  General  Canby,  which 
closed  out  the  Confederacy  from  the  Atlantic  ocean  to 
the  Mississippi  river.  Then,  finally,  Kirby  Smith, 
commanding  trans-Mississippi  rebeldom,  following  the 
example  set  by  the  Eastern  rebel  leaders,  and  deeming 
it  useless  to  longer  protract  the  struggle,  delivered  up 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  187 

his  important  command  to  the  Federal  authorities,  and 
armed  rebellion  no  longer  existed  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  United  States. 

The  great  work  of  crushing  the  rebellion  was  now 
complete;  the  tedious  campaigns  of  the  Union  armies 
were  accomplished,  and  the  oft-repeated  command, 
"  Prepare  for  an  active  campaign  in  the  field,"  was  to 
be  announced  no  more  to  the  troops.  The  only  duties 
remaining  to  be  performed  by  the  16th  Corps,  were 
the  collection  of  the  Confederate  property,  of  which  a 
large  quantity  was  scattered  through  Northern  Alaba- 
ma, and  the  maintenance  of  good  order  in  society, 
which,  from  the  absence  of  either  civil  or  military  au- 
thority in  many  portions  of  the  State,  was  in  deplorable 
condition. 

The  encampment  of  the  Ninety-fifth  while  at  Mont- 
gomery was  located  about  three  miles  north  of  the 
city,  on  the  road  leading  to  Macon,  Georgia.  Here  a 
beautiful  camp  was  chosen  in  the  woods,  and  as  there 
was  a  prospect  of  remaining  at  this  place  for  some 
time,  much  pains  were  taken  to  make  it  clean  and 
comfortable.  A  chapel  was  built  under  the  trees  near 
the  center  of  the  encampment,  where  Divine  services 
were  held  regularly  every  Sabbath,  and  frequently 
during  the  week,  by  James  H.  More,  as  chaplain  o£  the 
regiment,  who  always  took  great  interest  in  the  spir- 


188  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

itual  welfare  of  the  men,  and  by  his  Christian  zeal 
and  perseverance,  exerted  a  beneficial  influence  over 
all  with  whom  he  was  associated.  After  becoming 
well  rested  from  the  lengthy  march  recently  performed, 
the  regiment  resumed  battalion  drills  and  dress-parades. 
The  men  could  not  see  the  need  of  farther  drilling, 
since  the  war  was  over  and  there  was  to  be  no  more 
campaigning ;  yet  their  duties  in  camp  were  light,  and 
a  continuance  of  good  health  in  the  command  de- 
manded the  revival  of  such  exercises.  After  a  few 
days,  however,  battalion  drills  were  discontinued,  while 
dress-parade  was  kept  up  and  held  regularly  each 
evening. 

Frofn  constant  practice  since  arriving  at  Montgomery, 
the  regiment  had  attained  a  great  degree  of  proficiency 
in  this  exercise,  and  the  men  executed  the  various 
commands  in  the  manual  of  arms,  with  such  precision 
and  concert  of  action,  that  it  elicited  the  praise  of 
distinguished  military  officers  of  the  regular  army. 

On  one  occasion  Major  General  A.  J.  Smith,  the 
Corps  Commander,  was  present,  and  witnessed  the 
Ninety-fifth  on  dress-parade.  The  men  did  their 
best  in  the  presence  of  the  veteran  whose  eye  was 
upon  them,  and  after  the  parade  was  over,  he  remark- 
ed that  he  had  never  seen  the  Cadets  at  West  Point 
excel  this  military  performance  of  the  Ninety-fifth. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  189 

While  the  regiment  was  lying  in  camp  here,  many 
of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Ninety -fifth  and  other 
regiments,  in  view  of  the  probability  that  they  would 
soon  be  allowed  to  muster  out  of  the  service  and 
return  to  their  homes,  were  desirous  of  taking  back 
with  them  from  the  South  some  relic  - —  some  curiosity, 
animate  or  inanimate,  peculiar  to  the  Southern  soil  and 
climate.  In  making  such  selections  there  was  a  great 
diversity  of  tastes.  Some  chose  shot-guns;  some, 
rebel  swords ;  some,  caged-up  birds,  of  various  kinds ; 
while  not  a  few  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  (among 
whom  may  be  mentioned  the  names  of  Colonel  Blanden, 
of  the  Ninety-fifth,  and  Captain  Frank  Or.  Hopkins,  of 
the  44th  Missouri  Infantry,)  were  anxious  to  secure 
fine-blooded  dogs,  in  which  this  section  of  the  South 
abounded. 

During  the  halt  which  the  16th  Corps  made  at 
Greenville,  on  its  way  to  Montgomery,  Captain  Hop- 
kins, then  in  command  of  the  44th  Missouri  regiment, 
had  procured  a  fine  pointer  dog,  and  brought  him  to 
Montgomery,  with  the  intention  of  taking  him  North. 
Whether  the  animal  was  purchased,  or  strayed  from 
the  rightful  owner  and  followed  after  the  Captain  at 
his  solicitation,  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  decide ;  but, 
at  least,  the  Captain  considered  that,  having  full  pos- 
session of  the  property,  his  title  was  valid,  certainly  as 


190  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

against  all  other  officers  and  soldiers.  On  arriving  at 
Montgomery,  he  therefore  kept  him  well  secured  at  his 
head-quarters.  One  day,  however,  the  dog  released 
himself  from  this  confinement,  and  by  chance  wandered 
over  to  Colonel  Blanden's  heajl-quarters,  which  were 
near  by.  The  Colonel,  unaware  that  it  belonged  to 
his  friend,  Captain  Hopkins,  and  supposing  it  had 
strayed  into  camp  from  some  neighboring  plantation, 
decided  to  tie  it  securely  near  his  own  head-quarters, 
and  congratulated  himself  on  having  found  a  valuable 
pointer  dog,  which  he  designed  to  take  home  with  him. 
Several  days  passed,  and  the  dog  was  still  secure  at 
the  Colonel's  head-quarters,  unclaimed,  and  he  now 
considered  himself  undisturbed  in  the  possession  and 
ownership  of  the  property.  One  evening,  after  the 
Colonel  had  retired  for  the  night  and  was  fast  asleep, 
a  communication  was  received  at  regimental  head- 
quarters, from  Captain  Hopkins,  which  read  as  follows : 

"Head  Quarters  44th  Missouri  Infantry  Volunteers,  i 
Camp  near  Montgomery,  Ala.,  May  2, 1865.      f 

1 '  COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  request  that  you  permit  the 
bearer  to  take  charge  of  a  certain  'pointer  purp, '  said  to  be  in  your 
possession,  which  I  claim  to  be  owner  of. 

"The  said  animal  is  of  the  male  persuasion,  has  a  double  nose,  is 
liver-colored  and  white. 

"  Said  '  dorg '  strayed  from  my  camp  on  or  about  Saturday,  April 
29th,  1865. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  191 

1 '  Hoping  you  will  comply  with  this  modest  request,  I  have  the 
honor  to  be,  Colonel, 

"  Very  resp'y,  your  obed't  serv't, 

"Capt.  FRANK  a.  HOPKINS, 

"Commanding  44th  Mo.  Inf'y. 
"Col.  L.  BLANDEN, 

"  Com' d'g  95th  HI.  Inf'y." 

The  colonel  was  immediately  aroused  from  his  slum- 
bers by  the  adjutant,  who  presented  the  communication, 
and  desired  to  know  what  disposition  should  be  made 
of  it  The  latter  was  instructed  to  send  "  the  bearer" 
back  to  camp  without  the  dog,  and  to  return  the 
captain's  communication,  with  such  strong  endorse- 
ment as  the  circumstances  of  the  case  called  for.  At 
a  late  hour  the  same  night,  therefore,  the  following 
endorsement  was  written  on  the  back  of  the  captain's 
paper,  and  sent  over  to  him  about  midnight : 

"  Head-quarters  95th  111.  Infantry  Vols.,      > 
"Camp  near  Montgomery,  Ala.,  May  2nd,  1865.  J 

' '  Respectfully  returned  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  44th 
Mo.  Inft'y  Vols.,  with  the  information  that  a  'Purp,'  answering 
somewhat  to  the  description  contained  in  the  within  canine  commu- 
nication came  to  these  head-quarters  on  or  about  April  29th,  1865, 
hungry,  exhausted,  and  apparently  without  owner.  The  animal 
exhibited  every  evidence  that  it  had  not  been  long  absent  from  some 
planter's  home,  and  was  not  used  to  the  ways  and  customs  of  the 
army.  The  thought  then  suggested  itself  that  said  pointer  dog 
might,  shortly  since,  have  been  the  pet  of  some  fair  one  at  Green- 
ville, and  have  strayed  away  through  the  enticing  efforts  of  some 


192  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

mischievous  soldier  belonging  to  'Smith's  Guerrillas,'  though  the 
undersigned  does  not  suppose  for  a  moment  that  the  within  claimant 
formed  his  proprietary  interest  (if  he  has  any)  in  said  animal,  in  any 
such  manner. 

' '  The  within-mentioned  dog,  since  his  advent  to  these  head- 
quarters, has  been  well  fed,  well  treated,  and  well  tied  to  a  tree  near 
my  tent,  showing  conclusively  that  his  presence  hereabouts  has  been 
open  and  undisguised,  and  consequently  my  possession  up  to  the  pre- 
sent date,  has  been  of  the  most  innocent  character.  In  conclusion, 
I  would  say  that  the  within  description  does  not  identify  the  animal 
in  question  with  sufficient  particularity,  and  it  being  too  late  this 
evening  to  determine  all  the  points  referred  to  within,  I  would 
therefore  request  a  personal  interview  with  the  claimant,  at  these 
head-quarters,  to-morrow  morning,  when  he  can  prove  property, 
pay  charges,  and  take  his  '  Purp.' 
"  By  order  of 

UL.  BLANDEN, 

"W.  W.  WOOD,  "Col.  Com'dgRegt. 

"Adj't." 

The  captain  did  not  appear,  however,  on  the  follow- 
ing morning  to  press  his  claim.  He  was  so  much 
pleased  with  the  endorsement  in  reply  to  his  own  com- 
munication that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say  on  the 
subject  of  dogs,  and  insisted  that  the  colonel  should 
remain  in  undisturbed  possession  of  .the  "double- 
nosed  pointer." 

The  regiments,  after  remaining  at  Montgomery  a 
few  weeks,  all  became  anxious  to  be  mustered  out  of 
the  service,  as  they  seemed  to  be  no  longer  required, 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  193 

and  they  now  desired  to  return  to  their  homes  as  soon 
as  possible.  A  general  order  from  the  War  Department 
had  been  issued,  authorizing  all  troops  whose  term  of 
service  expired  before  October  1st,  1865,  to  be  mustered 
out  and  sent  home  immediately.  In  accordance  with 
this  order,  the  Union  armies  at  the  East  were  being 
rapidly  disbanded  or  materially  decreased. 

The  16th  Army  Corps,  however,  was  excepted  from 
the  operation  of  the  order  until  late  in  the  summer, 
and  was  scattered  in  different  directions  through  North- 
ern Alabama,  doing  guard  and  garrison  duty,  protect- 
ing society  from  marauders,  and  gathering  in  the 
Confederate  property  which  had  accumulated  at 
different  points,  and  which  was  now  claimed  and  taken 
possession  of  by  the  Federal  Government 


194  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 


CHAPTER  XI. 

A  portion  of  the  16th  Army  Corps  sent  to  North-eastern  Alabama 
—  Col.  Moore's  Brigade  garrison  Tuskegee,  Opelika,  and  Union 
Springs  —  The  Ninety-fifth  occupy  Opelika  —  Feelings  of  the 
Citizens  —  Stringent  Whisky  Orders  enforced  by  Col.  Blanden — 
Management  of  the  Negro  Question  —  Paroled  Rebel  Soldiers  — 
The  Fourth  of  July,  and  how  the  Soldiers  Celebrated  it  at  Ope- 
lika—  Officers  and  Men  anxious  to  be  Mustered  Out  —  The  Regi- 
ment relieved,  and  returns  to  Montgomery  to  be  sent  home  — 
Proceeds  to  Vicksburg  via  Selma,  Meridian,  and  Jackson  — 
Arrival  at  Vicksburg  —  Takes  Steamer  up  the  River  to  St.  Louis 

—  Goes  thence  to  Springfield,  111. ,  for  final  Payment  and  Discharge 

—  Mustered  out  of  the  Service  at  ' '  Camp  "Butler ' '  —  Return 
home  to  McHenry  and  Boone  Counties  —  The  Receptions  there 
given  the  various  Companies  —  Conclusion. 

THE  Ninety-fifth  remained  in  camp  at  Montgomery, 
Alabama,  until  the  23rd  of  May,  when  Colonel  Moore's 
brigade  was  ordered  into  the  north-eastern  part  of  the 
State  for  garrison  duty,  to  preserve  order  in  society, 
and  to  collect  the  property  of  the  Confederacy  remaining 
in  that  section.  The  33rd  Wisconsin  and  44th  Mis- 
souri regiments  were  stationed  at  Tuskegee,  the  county 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  195 

seat  of  Macon  county,  where  Colonel  Moore  estab- 
lished his  head-quarters ;  the  72nd  Illinois  at  Union 
Springs,  and  the  Ninety -fifth  was  assigned  to  occupy 
Opelika,  a  town  on  the  railroad,  sixty  miles  from 
Montgomery.  The  regiment  arrived  at  Opelika  on 
the  26th  day  of  May,  having  had  a  hot  and  dusty 
march  from  Montgomery.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
place  did  not  express  many  manifestations  of  joy  at 
the  location  of  Union  troops  in  their  midst,  for  now 
that  the  war  was  over,  and  the  rebel  armies  disbanded, 
they  could  see  no  necessity  for  the  continued  military 
occupation  of  the  country. 

As  the  regiment  marched  through  the  village  to  its 
place  of  encampment,  the  houses  were  all  kept  closed ; 
the  fair  occupants,  incensed  at  our  arrival,  did  not  show 
themselves,  and  excepting  a  few  Confederate  paroled 
soldiers  and  citizens  sitting  around  various  rum-shops 
and  places  where  business  was  formerly  transacted,  the 
town  appeared  deserted  and  lifeless.  Opelika  was  a 
point  where  many  of  the  paroled  rebel  soldiers,  on 
their  return  homeward,  had  been  in  the  habit  of  stop- 
ping, and  using  freely  during  their  stay  the  commissary 
stores  and  other  property  which  had  been  here  collect- 
ed by  agents  of  the  pretended  Government  for  which 
they  had  so  long  and  so  unsuccessfully  been  fighting. 
These  released  prisoners  considered  that,  in  the  general 


196  HISTOKY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

bankruptcy  which  had  befallen  their  cause,  they  were 
entitled  to  a  share  of  the  plunder,  especially  as  against 
their  own  citizens,  many  of  whom  were  appropriating 
it  to  their  individual  use.  The  whisky  trade  was 
also  carried  on  here  quite  lively,  and  was  another  cause 
for  detaining  crowds  of  soldiers  as  they  came  through 
from  the  East  There  were  several  stills  in  this  vicin- 
ity, where  the  beverage  was  produced  in  large  quanti- 
ties, being  manufactured  from  corn,  and,  in  character 
and  effect,  strikingly  resembled  the  article  which  is 
known  to  endanger  the  life  of  an  individual  at  the 
distance  of  forty  rods.  Colonel  Blanden,  on  assuming 
command  of  the  Post,  deeming  that  the  whisky  traffic, 
if  continued,  would  give  him  much  trouble  in  the  gov- 
ernment of  his  own  command,  and  in  controlling  the 
numerous  Confederate  soldiers  who  were  continually 
passing  along  that  route,  issued  an  order  closing  up  all 
saloons  and  prohibiting  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquor 
to  his  men  by  any  one.  The  order  was  efficacious  in 
closing  the  doors  of  the  whisky-dealers.  Good  order 
soon  prevailed,  and  little  drunkenness  was  noticed 
thereafter  in  the  streets.  The  Colonel  was  unable, 
however,  to  keep  liquor  from  those  of  his  own  men 
who  were  in  the  habit  of  using  it,  and  the  stringent 
restrictions  which  he  enforced,  did  not  produce  all  the 
good  effects  intended,  in  the  regiment  There  were 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  197 

such,  a  number  of  whisky-stills  in  the  neighborhood, 
that  liquor  could  be  easily  obtained  from  them,  and 
was  frequently  brought  into  camp  unbeknown  to  the 
commanding  officer.  Tt  has  been  often  remarked,  by 
officers  and  men,  that  during  the  whole  service  never 
was  so  much  inebriety  known  in  the  Ninety-fifth  as 
while  under  the  prohibitory  regulations  introduced  at 
Opelika.  If  the  Colonel  could  have  struck  at  the 
source  of  the  evil,  and  burned  down  or  closed  up 
effectually  those  places  where  the  whisky  was  manu- 
factured, then  his  policy  would  have  proven  more  suc- 
cessful, and  his  drinking  men  been  more  temperate. 
But  he  came  here  with  strict  orders  to  respect  all  pri- 
vate property,  and  was  therefore  unauthorized  to  inter- 
fere with  the  rights  of  those  who  owned,  and  were 
running,  the  stills.  His  strong  temperance  principles 
would  have  impelled  him,  had  he  possessed  the  au- 
thority, to  demolish  those  institutions,  and  abate  them 
as  public  nuisances. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  troops  at  Opelika,  the 
negro  question  became  the  principal  subject  of  consid- 
eration, and  gave  the  military  commander  much  trouble 
and  annoyance.  Up  to  this  time  the  negroes  in  this 
section  had  continued  to  be  held  and  considered  as 
slaves  by  their  former  masters,  who  were  loth  to  admit 
that  the  war  had  done  away  with  their  former  relations 
18 


198  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

and  their  cherished  institution.  The  policy,  however, 
of  treating  them  as  freedmen,  which  had  been  carried 
out  in  the  Southern  States  by  the  Federal  armies  since 
President  Lincoln's  proclamation  in  1863,  was  at  once 
announced  here  to  the  people,  and  notice  given  them 
that,  if  they  wished  to  retain  their  colored  laborers, 
they  must  agree  with  them  for  their  services  and  grant 
them  just  compensation  for  their  labor.  Large  num- 
bers of  the  colored  people  flocked  in  daily,  anxious  to 
learn  what  rights  they  had  under  the  altered  condition 
of  affairs,  and  complaining,  in  many  instances,  of  mal- 
treatment on  the  part  of  their  former  masters.  They 
were  told  that  they  were  perfectly  free,  but  were  ad- 
vised universally  to  seek  employment  immediately, 
either  on  the  plantations  where  they  had  been  living, 
or  elsewhere. 

The  planters  also  appeared  frequently  at  head-quar- 
ters with  their  complaints,  representing  their  many 
inconveniences  and  sufferings  consequent  upon  the 
release  from  bondage  of  the  negro  population.  They 
were  informed  plainly,  that  the  relation  of  master  and 
slave  no  longer  existed  in  Alabama,  and  that  while 
the  negroes  would  not  be  allowed  to  roam  about  the 
country  unemployed,  they  would  still  be  protected  in 
all  their  privileges  as  freedmen. 

The  planters  finally  accepted  the  new  policy  with 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  199 

reluctance,  and  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives  were 
obliged  to  accommodate  themselves  to  a  new  order  of 
things,  and  practice  the  free-labor  system. 

Before  the  arrival  of  the  regiment  at  this  place, 
society  in  this  vicinity  was  in  very  bad  condition,  there 
being  neither  civil  nor  military  law  in  operation. 
Colonel  Blanden  applied  himself  diligently  to  the 
work  of  ferreting  out  certain  criminals  who  had  been 
disturbing  the  peace  of  society  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  forwarded  several  of  them  to  Montgomery  for 
trial  and  punishment 

During  the  time  the  regiment  encamped  here,  Opeli- 
ka  was  designated  as  a  Post  for  paroling  rebel  soldiers. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  many  of  these  were  absent 
from  their  commands  on  furloughs  and  sick,  and  came 
in  now  willingly  to  obtain  their  paroles.  Between  two 
and  three  hundred  were  paroled,  only  one  of  which 
number  expressed  himself  in  favor  of  a  continuance  of 
the  rebellion.  The  great  majority  of  them  seemed 
perfectly  satisfied  with  the  result  of  the  war,  and 
claimed  that  they  had  never  been  in  favor  of  it,  from 
the  beginning.  Many  of  these  soldiers  were  honest 
in  such  assertions,  and  had  been  forced  into  the  ranks 
by  that  reign  of  terror  which  the  leading  traitors  insti- 
tuted and  carried  out  to  advance  their  base  schemes 
and  sustain  their  rotten  Confederacy. 


200  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

William  L.  Yancey  had  been  one  of  those  promi- 
nent characters,  who  had  precipitated  his  own  State, 
and  hastened  others,  headlong  into  the  rebellion,  and 
had  incited  the  youth  of  the  South  to  take  up  arms, 
for  the  accomplishment  of  his  traitorous  purposes. 
Though  his  body  now  lay  entombed  in  the  cemetery 
at  Montgomery,  no  Alabamian  was  heard  to  speak  well 
of  his  character  as  a  politician  or  a  man.  He  was 
never  referred  to  by  the  citizens  or  paroled  soldiers 
except  in  terms  of  reproach  and  hatred,  and  they  looked 
upon  him  as  the  instigator  of  all  their  troubles,  the 
prime  mover  in  hurrying  Alabama  out  of  the  Union. 
They  claimed  that  the  doctrine  of  secession,  at  the 
outset,  would  have  been  condemned  by  an  overwhelm- 
ing majority,  had  Yancey  and  his  fanatical  clique 
submitted  the  question  to  a  fair  vote  of  the  people. 

This  was  not  done,  and  after  the  ordinance  of  seces- 
sion had  once  been  passed,  the  citizens  excused  their 
subsequent  action  in  the  war,  on  the  false  ground  that 
their  allegiance  could  no  longer  be  claimed  by  the 
United  States ;  that  thenceforward  it  was  due  alone  to 
the  State ;  that  the  State  was  their  country,  and  that 
their  only  alternative  was  to  aid  her  in  asserting  the 
great  Southern  heresy  of  State  Rights. 

The  results  of  the  war  had  now  taught  these  people 
a  different  doctrine,  and  from  the  sad  and  ruinous  ex- 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  201 

perience  of  four  years'  rebellion,  they  had  learned  the 
true  strength  and  indivisibility  of  the  American  gov- 
ernment. It  is  a  lesson  which  will  long  remain  fresh 
in  their  memories,  and  will  descend  to  their  posterity 
as  a  fearful  warning  against  future  attempts  to  dis- 
solve and  destroy  the  perpetual  Union  of  States 
established  by  the  fathers. 

The  summer  of  1865  was  passed  pleasantly  by  the 
regiment,  in  the  performance  of  their  easy  duties  at 
Opelika.  The  locality  was  very  healthy  for  the  men  ; 
good  water  was  abundant,  and  fruit,  vegetables  and  all 
necessary  eatables  were  easily  obtained.  Never  before 
during  the  service  had  the  command  been  so  well 
provided  for,  and  so  free  from  sickness.  The  inhabit- 
ants, after  recovering  from  the  sulky  disposition  mani- 
fested on  our  arrival,  and  from  the  dissatisfaction 
which  followed  the  enforcement  of  the  policy  in  refer- 
ence to  the  negroes,  became  resigned  to  existing 
affairs,  appeared  more  aifable,  and  made  frequent  visits 
to  the  encampment,  to  see  and  converse  with  the 
soldiers. 

The  Fourth  of  July  was  observed  by  the  soldiers  of 
the  Ninety-fifth,  at  Opelika,  in  the  old-fashioned  man- 
ner-. They  had  no  artillery  with  which  to  arouse  the 
inhabitants  at  an  early  hour ;  but  long  before  sunrise 
of  that  day,  the  various  companies  formed  at  the 


202  HI8TORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

camp,  without  reference  to  officers,  and  commenced 
firing  a  National  salute  with  their  muskets.  It 
sounded  like  very  heavy  skirmishing  in  the  rear  of  the 
town,  and  in  war  times  would  have  indicated  an  imme- 
diate attack.  Some  of  the  citizens,  awakened  from 
their  slumbers,  knew  not  what  to  make  of  this  unusual 
procedure,  and  feared  that  their  lives  and  property 
were  in  jeopardy  for  some  offense  they  had  recently 
committed.  Their  apprehensions  were  allayed,  how- 
ever, on  learning  that  it  was  only  the  opening  exercise 
of  the  celebration  of  the  Nation's  birthday  —  a  day 
which  had  long  been  disregarded  and  lost  sight  of  by 
the  people  of  this  section. 

The  firing  of  the  National  salute  continued  vigo- 
rously until  breakfast  time,  after  which  a  large  delega- 
tion from  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Quartermaster 
Sergeant  Early,  formed  in  procession  at  the  encamp- 
ment, and  paraded  through  the  principal  streets  of 
the  village,  bearing  the  American  flag,  and  keeping 
step  to  patriotic  music  furnished  by  the  regimental 
band.  Brief  speeches  were  made  to  the  men  by  Col. 
Blanden,  Major  Loop,  Quartermaster  Southworth  and 
Adjutant  Wood,  and  the  day  was  passed  joyously  and 
with  enthusiasm,  by  all  concerned.  In  the  afternoon, 
a  novel  dress-parade  was  held  at  the  usual  place,  in 
which  none  of  the  commissioned  officers  were  allowed 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  203 

to  take  part.  Sergeant  Early,  who  had  been  chosen 
as  leader  of  the  boys  that  day,  commanded  the 
parade,  while  the  positions  of  the  different  commis- 
sioned officers  were  filled  from  the  non-commissioned 
grade,  and  other  enlisted  men.  The  whole  affair  was 
laughable  to  behold,  yet  all  the  movements  were  exe- 
cuted with  great  precision,  and  reflected  much  credit 
upon  the  temporary  commander  and  his  men. 

The  guns  on  this  occasion  were  loaded  with  blank 
cartridges,  unbeknown  to  the  large  number  of  specta- 
tors, white  and  black,  who  had  assembled  in  front  of 
the  battalion  to  witness  the  exercise.  At  the  command, 
"  ready  —  aim  — fire  /"  the  pieces  were  all  leveled  and 
discharged  in  unison,  making  a  terrible  report,  and 
scattering  the  crowd  in  front  in  various  directions. 
The  promiscuous  assemblage  of  white  people  and  ne- 
groes were  badly  frightened,  but  suffered  no  injury 
from  the  harmless  firing  of  the  blank  cartridges.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  parade,  Col.  Blanden  presented 
the  sergeant  in  command  with  twenty  dollars,  which 
was  well  used  in  closing  up  the  festivities  of  the  day, 
and  all  felt  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  it  had 
been  celebrated. 

The  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment  were  now  be- 
coming uneasy  on  account  of  being  detained  in  the 
service,  as  they  deemed,  unnecessarily.  There  was 


204  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

undoubtedly  need  of  some  military  force  in  that 
section  to  preserve  order  in  society,  but  it  was  thought 
that  one  company  would  have  performed  all  the  neces- 
sary duties  at  this  post,  and  answered  fully  as  well  as 
a  whole  regiment  Beside,  it  was  claimed  that  there 
were  plenty  of  veteran  troops  in  the  corps,  who  could 
be  sent  to  relieve  those  whose  term  of  service  would 
expire  before  October  1st,  1865.  The  commanding 
officer  of  the  department,  however,  knew  best  what 
forces  he  needed  to  retain  in  his  command  for  the  mili- 
tary government  of  the  State,  and  doubtless  for- 
warded the  regiments  to  the  rendezvous  appointed  for 
mustering  troops  out  of  the  service,  as  soon  as  their 
services  could  be  spared. 

On  the  15th  day  of  July,  orders  finally  came  for 
the  regiment,  on  being  relieved  by  three  companies 
from  the  52nd  Regiment  Indiana  Infantry  Volunteers, 
to  return  "  by  land  "  to  Montgomery.  The  new  force 
arrived  on  the  17th,  took  charge  of  the  place,  and  on 
the  following  day  the  Ninety-fifth  bade  adieu  to 
Opelika,  and  started  on  their  homeward  journey.  It 
had  been  hoped  that  the  regiment  would  be  sent  by 
railroad  from  Opelika  directly  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  a 
much  cheaper  route  for  the  Government  and  far  easier 
for  the  soldiers,  as  by  this  route  there,  would  be  no 
marching.  -It  was  ordered  otherwise,  and  the  course 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  205 

of  the  regiment  from  Montgomery  was  destined  to  be 
across  the  country  to  Vicksburg,  the  place  designated 
for  muster-out. 

Instead  of  returning  to  Montgomery  entirely  "  by 
land,"  as  directed  in  the  order  from  superior  head- 
quarters, the  soldiers  determined  they  would  make 
some  of  that  distance  "by  rail,"  at  the  risk  of 
being  reprimanded  for  disobedience  of  orders.  A  train 
was  chartered,  which  carried  the  command  twenty-five 
miles  to  Chehaw  Station,  thus  saving  the  men  a 
tedious  and  sultry  march.  The  weather  was  so  exces- 
sively hot  that  the  troops  could  only  move  a  short 
distance  during  the  day,  and  most  of  the  marching 
had  to  be  done  very  early  in  the  morning.  From 
Chehaw  Station,  the  regiment,  under  command  of 
Major  Loop,  marched  to  Tuskegee,  where  it  was 
joined  by  the  44th  Missouri  and  33rd  Wisconsin,  be- 
longing to  the  same  brigade.  From  this  place  the 
three  regiments  moved  forward,  July  19th,  and  on  the 
following  day  were  joined  by  the  72nd  Illinois  In- 
fantry near  Line  Creek,  which  regiment  had  just  been 
relieved  from  duty  at  Union  Springs.  The  brigade 
arrived  at  Montgomery  July  21st,  and  the  regiments 
resumed  the  respective  camping  grounds  which  they 
had  left  in  the  latter  part  of  May  previous. 

The  troops  were  now  sent  forward  for  muster-out  at 
19 


206  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Vicksburg  as  fast  as  transportation  could  be  furnished 
down  the  Alabama  river. 

The  Ninety-fifth  was  delayed  several  days  at  Mont- 
gomery, and  meanwhile  the  company  commanders 
employed  the  time  profitably  in  preparing  their  muster- 
out  rolls.  A  large  number  of  recruits  whose  terms 
of  service  did  not  expire  with  the  organization,  were 
here  formed  into  a  detachment  and  left  in  charge  of 
Lieuts.  Ellsworth,  of  Co.  F.,  and  Wilkie,  of  Co.  G.,for 
transfer  to  some  veteran  command.  This  detachment 
numbered  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  enlisted  men,  and 
was  subsequently  assigned  to  the  47th  Illinois  In- 
fantry. On  the  28th  day  of  July,  transportation  being 
in  readiness,  the  regiment  embarked  at  Montgomery, 
on  the  small  steamers  "Ked  Chief"  and  "Coquette," 
and  proceeded  down  the  Alabama  river  to  Selma, 
where  it  arrived  on  the  following  morning.  Disem- 
barking here,  it  proceeded  thence  by  railroad  through 
Demopolis  and  Meridian,  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  reaching 
this  point  July  31st  The  railroad  between  Jackson 
and  Yicksburg  having  been  thoroughly  destroyed  by 
the  Federal  armies  during  the  campaign  against  the 
latter  place,  had  not  been  repaired,  and  the  regiment 
was  obliged  to  march  from  Jackson  to  the  Big  Black,  a 
distance  of  about  forty  miles.  It  started  from  Jackson 
on  the  evening  of  August  1st,  and  came  out  ten 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  207 

miles  to  Clinton,  where  it  camped  at  11  o'clock  p.  M. 
Kesuming  the  march  early  on  the  following  morning, 
the  regiment  moved  forward  August  2nd,  twenty-two 
miles,  over  the  old  battle-fields  at  Champion  Hills, 
and  camped  the  same  night  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  Big  Black  bridge.  It  took  the  cars  at  this  place 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  3rd,  and  arrived  at  Vicksburg 
safely  that  evening.  It  was  expected  the  command 
would  remain  at  this  rendezvous,  and  be  mustered  out 
of  the  service  before  being  sent  to  the  State  for  final 
payment.  Such  orders  were  received  from  Maj.  Gen. 
Smith,  by  the  regimental  commander  on  leaving  Mont- 
gomery, but  Maj.  Gen.  Slocum,  in  command  at  Vicks- 
burg, deeming  it  for  the  interest  of  the  Government  to 
send  the  troops  immediately  up  the  river,  ordered  the 
Ninety -fifth  to  proceed  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  report 
to  the  chief  mustering  officer  at  that  post  for  muster- 
out.  The  regiment  accordingly  embarked  at  Vicks- 
burg, August  5th,  on  the  steamer  "  Mollie  Able,"  and 
after  a  pleasant  trip  up  the  Mississippi,  arrived  at  St. 
Louis  on  the  10th.  It  did  not  remain  here,  .however, 
to  muster  out,  and  soon  received  orders  from  Maj. 
Gen.  Pope,  commanding  the  Department  of  Missouri, 
to  proceed  to  Springfield,  111.,  for  final  payment  and 
discharge  from  the^service. 

The  organization  reached  Springfield,  August  llth, 


208  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

on  a  common  freight  train,  generously  provided  for 
the  occasion,  was  enthusiastically  received  at  the  depot 
by  a  delegation  of  Jewish  clothing  merchants,  and 
after  paying  for  its  own  transportation  on  the  cars  from 
the  city  to  "  Camp  Butler,"  was  assigned  good  quarters 
in  the  barracks  at  that  encampment 

The  company  commanders  now  applied  themselves 
diligently,  day  and  night,  to  the  completion  of  the 
muster-out  rolls,  which  had  been  begun  at  Mont- 
gomery. This  was  a  lengthy  and  tedious  work  for 
them,  as  several  of  these  rolls  had  to  be  made  out,  in 
which  it  was  necessary  to  properly  account  for  all 
men  who  had  ever  belonged  to  the  organization,  and 
give  an  accurate  report  of  their  pay,  clothing,  and 
other  accounts  with  the  Government ;  also  blank  dis- 
charges were  filled  up  and  furnished  to  each  soldier 
mustered  out  with  the  command. 

Through  extraordinary  eiforts  on  the  part  of  the 
officers,  all  the  necessary  papers  for  final  discharge 
were  completed  by  the  15th  of  August,  pronounced 
perfect  by  the  mustering  officer,  and  on  the  day  fol- 
lowing, the  regiment  was  formally  mustered  out  of  the 
United  States  service  by  Captain  James  A.  Hall,  of 
the  1st  U.  S.  Cavalry. 

On  the  21st  day  of  August  the  officers  and  enlisted 
men  received  full  and  final  payment,  and  in  a  body 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  209 

left  Springfield  the  same  evening  on  a  special  train 
for  Chicago,  and  their  respective  homes.  Preparations 
had  been  made  in  the  counties  where  the  regiment 
was  raised,  to  give  the  various  companies  appropriate 
receptions  on  their  arrival,  and  delegations  were  sent 
to  meet  the  regiment  at  Chicago.  Hon.  Allen  C. 
Fuller  was  present,  and  escorted  the  Boone  county 
companies  to  Belvidere,  where  a  large  concourse  of 
people  greeted  the  returning  veterans,  and  with  fitting 
and  patriotic  ceremonies  welcomed  them  back  to  their 
homes  from  the  war.  The  several  companies  from 
McHenry  county  were  received  with  similar  demon- 
strations, in  the  various  localities  to  which  they 
returned. 

Here  closes  the  military  career  of  the  regiment. 
While  the  surviving  members  point  with  pride  to  its 
record  during  the  war,  and  rejoice  in  its  instrumen- 
tality in  crushing  the  rebellion  and  securing  the  tri- 
umph of  the  National  cause,  yet  it  is  to  be  remem- 
bered with  sadness,  that  all  these  grand  results  were 
accomplished  only  at  the  expense  and  sacrifice  of 
valuable  life  and  limb. 

Out  of  the  aggregate  nine  hundred  and  eighty-three 
officers  and  enlisted  men,  who  originally  accompanied 
the  regiment  to  the  field,  only  about  half  of  them  re- 


210        »       HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFIH 

turned  and  mustered  out  with  the  organization.  One 
hundred  and  ninety  men  were  discharged  during  the 
service,  mostly  for  disabilities  incurred  after  leaving 
their  homes.  Many  of  these  returned  to  their  friends, 
pale,  haggard,  and  broken  down  by  the  sufferings  and 
diseases  incident  to  camp  life.  But  in  looking  over 
the  record  of  the  regiment,  the  most  sorrowful  recol- 
lection of  all  is,  that  eighty-three  of  our  noble  com- 
rades laid  down  their  lives  while  filling  their  places  of 
duty  on  the  battle-field,  and  died  of  wounds  received 
in  action,  while  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  became 
the  pitiful  victims  of  disease,  and  from  this  cause 
closed  their  earthly  career  while  in  the  service  of  their 
country. 

Long  is  the  list  of  our  fallen  companions,  our  valo- 
rous and  patriotic  dead ;  they  shine  forth  in  our 
regimental  history  as  valiant  heroes  who  offered  their 
own  lives,  willing  sacrifices  upon  the  altar  of  their 
country,  that  rebellion  might  perish,  and  the  nation's 
life  be  preserved. 

Their  deeds  and  virtues  will  ever  be  treasured  well 
in  memory  by  the  survivors  of  the  regiment,  and  the 
dependent  ones  whom  they  may  have  left  behind  will 
be  remembered  and  cared  for  by  a  deeply  sympathizing, 
generous  and  patriotic  public. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNEEERS.  211 


APPENDIX. 


ROSTER    OF    COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    AND 
NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF, 

SHOWING 

Musler-in,  Resignations,  Deaths  and  Promotions  during  Service. 


FIELD  AND   STAFF. 

Col.  LAWRENCE  S.  CHURCH;  appointed  Aug.  22,  1862; 
mustered  into  U.  S.  service  Sept.  4,  1862,  date  of  muster- 
in  of  the  regiment;  resignation  accepted  Jan.  24,  1863. 

Col.  THOS.  "W.  HUMPHREY;  appointed  Lieut.  Colonel 
Aug.  22,  1862;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862;  promoted  Col- 
onel May  21,  1863,  to  rank  from  Jan.  24,  1863;  killed  in 
action  at  Guntown  June  10,  1864.  Bre vetted  Brigadier 
General. 

Col.  LEANDER  BLANDEN;  appointed  Major  Aug.  22, 
1862;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862;  promoted  to  Lieut.  Col- 
onel May  21,  1863,  to  rank  from  Jan.  24,  1863;  promoted 
to  Colonel  Oct.  13,  1864,  to  rank  from  Sept.  1,  1864. 

Lieut.  Col.  WM.  AVERY  ;  promoted  to  Major  from  Cap- 
tain Co.  "A,"  May  21,  1863;  promoted  to  Lieut.  Colonel 
Nov.  16,  1864. 

Major  CHARLES  B.  LOOP  ;  promoted  to  Major  from  Cap- 
tain Go.  "B,"  Oct.  16,  1864. 

Adjt.  WALES  W.  WOOD;  appointed  Aug.  26,  1862; 
mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862. 

Quartermaster  HENRY  D.  BATES  ;  mustered  in  Sept.  4, 
1862;  resigned  March  29,  1863. 

Quartermaster  GARDNER  S.  SOUTH  WORTH  ;  promoted 
from  First  Lieut.  Co.  "I,"  May  14,  1863. 


212  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

Surgeon  GEORGE  N.  WOODWARD;  appointed  Oct.  10, 
1862;  resigned  March  24,  1863. 

Surgeon  JOHN  W.  GREEN;  appointed  April  24,  1863; 
mustered  in  May  6,  1863. 

Asst.  Surgeon  WALTER  F.  SUITER  ;  appointed  Oct.  7, 
1862;  mustered  in  Oct.  21,  1862. 

Asst.  Surgeon  ANSEL  D.  MERRITT  ;  appointed  Oct.  28, 
1862;  resigned  March  24,  1863. 

Asst.  Surgeon  JOSIAH  GIDDINGS;  appointed  April  30, 
1863  ;  mustered  in  May  13,  1863. 

Chaplain  THOS.  R.  SATTERFIELD  ;  appointed  Oct.  9, 
1862;  mustered  in  same  date;  resigned  June  9,  1864. 

Chaplain  JAS.  H.  MORE;  appointed  Sept.  16,  1864; 
mustered  in  same  date. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 

Sergt.  Major  BENNETT  T.  WAKEMAN;  appointed  at 
organization  of  regiment;  discharged  from  service  March 
18,  1863,  for  disability. 

Sergt.  Major  MILO  S.  BROWN  ;  promoted  from  the  ranks 
Aug.  7,  1863;  died  of  disease  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  July  7, 
1864. 

Sergt.  Major  MARK  HATHAWAY;  promoted  from  Co. 
"H,"  April  2,  1863  ;  discharged  to  receive  promotion  April 
26,  1863. 

Sergt.  Major  CHARLEY  CURTIS  ;  promoted  from  Co.  "B," 
July  7,  1863. 

Q.  M.  Sergt.  WM.  H.  EARLEY  ;  appointed  and  mustered 
in  at  organization  of  regiment. 

Com.  Sergt.  JOHN  H.  HURLBUT  ;  appointed  and  mustered 
in  with  regiment;  returned  to  Co.  "F"  for  duty,  June  1, 
1863. 

Com.  Sergt.  FRANKLIN  H.  BOSWORTH;  promoted  from 
the  ranks  June  1,  1863. 

Hosp.  Steward  WILBUR  P.  BUCK;  appointed  at  organi- 
zation of  regiment ;  discharged  for  promotion  as  Asst.  Sur- 
geon in  17th  Illinois  Infantry,  Jan.  18,  1864. 

Hosp.   Steward  JOHN  W.  GROESBECK;  promoted   from 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  213 

the  ranks  Jan.  18,  1864  ;  discharged  for  promotion  as  Asst. 
Surgeon  in  81st  Illinois  Infantry,  Dec.  6,  1864. 

Hosp.  Steward  FRANCIS  P.  DICKINSON;  promoted  from 
the  ranks  Dec.  6,  1864. 

Drum  Major  THEODORE  INGHAM,  and  Fife  Major  JUSTUS 
M.  SHEFFIELD  ;  appointed  and  mustered  in  at  organization 
of  regiment;  discharged  (being  in  excess  of  organization,) 
March  2,  1863. 

Principal  Musicians  ALMIRON  T.  VANLEUVEN  and  PETER 
WHITE;  promoted  from  the  ranks,  May  1st,  1863. 

LINE   OFFICERS. 
COMPANY  "A." 

Captain  ALEX.  S.  STEWART,  mustered  in  as  First  Lieut. 
Sept.  4,  1862;  promoted  to  Captain  May  21,  1863. 

First  Lieut.  JAS.  E.  SPONABLE  ;  mustered  in  as  Second 
Lieut.  Sept.  4,  1862  ;  promoted  to  First  Lieutenancy  May 

21,  1863  ;  died  of  wounds  received  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May 

22,  1863. 

First  Lieut.  JOHN  B.  BABCOCK;  promoted  from  Sergt. 
to  Second  Lieut.  May  21,  1863;  promoted  to  First  Lieut; 
resigned. 

First  Lieut.  AMOS  J.  BOYINGTON  ;  promoted  from  Sergt. 
to  Second  Lieut.;  promoted  to  First  Lieut.  June  23,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  BENJAMIN  F.  PARKER  ;  promoted  from 
Sergt.  to  Second  Lieut.  June  23,  1863. 

COMPANY  "B." 

Captain  JAMES  M.  TISDEL  ;  promoted  from  Sergt.  to 
Second  Lieut.  Jan.  1,  1864;  from  Second  Lieut,  to  First 
Lieut.  April,  1864;  from  First  Lieut,  to  Captain  Oct.  10, 
1864. 

First  Lieut.  MILTON  E.  KEELER;  mustered  in  Sept.  4, 
1862;  resigned. 

First  Lieut.  WM.  H.  H.  CURTIS  ;  promoted  to  Second 
Lieut,  from  Sergt.  ;  promoted  to  First  Lieut.  Oct.  16,  1864. 

Second  Lieut.  AARON  F.  RANDALL  ;  mustered  in  Sept.  4, 
1862;  resigned  Jan.  16,  1863. 


214  HI9TORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

Second  Lieut.  EDWARD  PIERCE  ;  promoted  from  Sergt.  to 
Second  Lieut.;  resigned  July  26,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  EDWARD  H.  ROSECRANS  ;  promoted  from 
Sergt.  to  Second  Lieut.  Oct.  16,  1864. 

• 

COMPANY  "C." 

Capt.  JASON  B.  MANZER;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862; 
killed  in  action  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863. 

Capt.  OTIS  H.  SMITH;  mustered  in  as  Second  Lieut. 
Sept.  4,  1862;  promoted  to  Captain  July  10,  1863. 

First  Lieut.  WM.  W.  WEDGEWOOD;  mustered  in  Sept. 
4,  1862;  mustered  out  Dec.  31,  1862. 

First  Lieut.  PHILIAR  L.  WELLS  ;  promoted  from  Sergt. 
to  Second  Lieut.  March  26,  1863;  promoted  to  First  Lieut. 
July  10,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  SAMUEL  CUTTER;  promoted  from  Sergt.  to 
Second  Lieut.  July  10,  1863. 

COMPANY  "  D." 

Capt.  EDWARD  J.  COOK;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862; 
died  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Vicksburg,  May  22, 
1863. 

Capt.  JOHN  E.  BECKLEY  ;  mustered  in  as  First  Lieut. 
Sept.  4,  1862;  promoted  to  Captain  Aug.  19,  1863. 

First  Lieut.  WM.  H.  HUFFMAN;  mustered  in  as  Second 
Lieut.  Sept.  4,  1862  ;  promoted  to  First  Lieut.  Aug.  19,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  JAMES  CASLER;  promoted  to  Second 
Lieut,  from  Sergt.  Aug.  8,  1864. 

COMPANY  "E." 

Capt.  JOHN  EDDY;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862. 

First  Lieut.  ASA  FARNUM  ;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862  ; 
dismissed  the  service  Sept.  24,  1864;  reinstated. 

Second  Lieut.  OSCAR  E.  DOWE,  mustered  into  service 
Sept.  4,  1862;  resigned  March  25,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  THOS.  GILKERSON;  promoted  to  Second 
Lieut,  from  Sergt.  June  1,  1863  ;  resigned  Dec.  11,  1864. 

Second  Lieut.  ALBERT  J.  ALDERMAN  ;  promoted  to  Sec- 
ond Lieut,  from  Sergt.  Oct.  16,  1864. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  215 


COMPANY  "F." 

Capt.  WM.  H.  STEWART  ;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862. 

First  Lieut.  SABINE  YAN  CUREN;  mustered  in  Sept.  4, 
1862  ;  resigned  May  26,  1863. 

First  Lieut.  MAURICE  F.  ELLSWORTH  ;  promoted  from 
Sergt.  to  Second  Lieut. ;  from  Second  to  First  Lieut.  July 
10,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  PHINEAS  H.  KERR  ;  mustered  in  Sept.  4, 
1862;  resigned  Feb.  22,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  JAS.  MORROW  ;  mustered  in ;  resigned 

Sept.  8,  1864. 

Second  Lieut.  GEO.  ECKERT  ;  appointed  Aug.  1865,  (not 
mustered.) 

COMPANY  "G." 

Capt.  ELLIOTT  N.  BUSH;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862  ; 
killed  in  action  at  G-untown  June  10,  1864. 

Capt.  HENRY  M.  BUSH;  promoted  from  First  Lieut,  to 
Captain  Oct.  17,  1864. 

First  Lieut.  JEREMIAH  WILCOX;  promoted  to  Second 
Lieut,  from  Sergt. ;  promoted  to  First  Lieut.  Dec.  25,  1864. 

Second  Lieut.  W.  W.  WOOD  ;  promoted  to  Adjt.  Aug. 
26,  1862. 

Second  Lieut.  JOSEPH  M.  COLLYER;  mustered  in  Sept. 
4,  1862;  died  of  disease  June  24,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  CHARLES  W".  IVES  ;  promoted  from  Sergt. 
to  Second  Lieut.  June  24,  1863  ;  resigned  Sept.  8,  1864. 

Second  Lieut.  DAYID  WILKIE  ;  promoted  from  Sergt.  to 
Second  Lieut.  Dec.  25,  1864. 

COMPANY  "H." 

Captain  CHAS.  H.  TRYON  ;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862; 
resigned  Feb.  18,  1863. 

Capt.  JAS.  H.  WETMORE,  promoted  from  First  Lieut,  to 
Captain  July  1,  1864. 

First  Lieut.  WM.  B.  WALKER  ;  promoted  from  Second 
Lieut,  to  First  Lieut.  July  1,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  JOHN  P.  RANSOM  ;  promoted  from  Sergt. 
to  Second  Lieut.  July  1,  1863. 


216  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

COMPANY  "  I." 

Capt.  JAS.  NISH;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862. 

First  Lieut.  THOS.  H.  JACKSON  ;  promoted  from  Sergt.  to 
First  Lieut.  May  29,  1863 ;  died  of  wounds  received  in 
action  at  Guntown,  June  10,  1864. 

First  Lieut.  WM.  H.  IDE  ;  promoted  from  Sergt.  to  First 
Lieut.  Aug.  1,  1864. 

Second  Lieut.  CONVERSE  PIERCE  ;  mustered  in  Sept.  4, 
1862 ;  resigned. 

Second  Lieut.  ASA  L.  WEAVER  ;  promoted  from  Sergt. 
to  Second  Lieut. 

COMPANY  "K" 

Capt.  GABRIEL  E.  CORNWELL;  mustered  in  Sept.  4,  1862  ; 
killed  in  action  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863. 

Capt.  ALMON  SCHELLENGER  ;  promoted  from  First  Lieut. 
to  Captain.  July  10,  1863. 

First  Lieut.  ALONZO  BROOKS;  promoted  from  Second 
Lieut,  to  First  Lieut.  July  10,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  JOHN  D.  Abbe ;  promoted  from  Sergt.  to 
Second  Lieut.  July  10,  1863;  resignation  accepted  Sept.  19, 
1864. 

Second  Lieut.  ALFRED  D.  CHENEY  ;  promoted  from 
Sergt.  to  Second  Lieut.  Feb.  15,  1865. 


LIST    SHOWING    COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS 

AND  ENLISTED  MEN 
Mustered  otU  with  Regiment,  Transferred,  Discharged,  Died  and  Deserted. 


A  *  Is  placed  after  the  names  of  the  officers  and  men  who  were  not  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment,  but  discharged  elsewhere. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF,   AND  NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Col.  Leander  Blanden,    Lieut.    Col.  Wm.   A  very,  Major 
Charles  B.  Loop,   Adjt.  W.  W.  Wood,  Surgeon  John  W. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  217 

Green,  Asst.  Surgeon  Walter  F.  Suiter,  Asst.  Surgeon  Jo- 
siah  Giddings,  Quartermaster  Gardner  S.  Southwortk,  Chap- 
lain James  H.  More ;  Sergeant  Major  Charley  Curtis,  Quar- 
termaster Sergeant  Wm.  H.  Earley,  Commissary  Sergeant 
Franklin  H.  Bosworth,  Hospital  Steward  Francis  P.  Dick- 
inson, Principal  Musicians,  Almiron  T.  Vanleuven  and  Peter 
White. 

COMPANY    "A.11 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Captain  Alexander  S.  Stewart,  First  Lieutenant  Amos 
J.  Boyington,  Second  Lieutenant  Benj.  T.  Parker. 

Sergeants  Henry  M.  Fillmore,  George  W.  Sponable,  Wm. 
H.  Sanders,  Calvin  G.  Handy,*  John  Kennedy.* 

Corporals  Lafayette  Wands,  Dennis  S.  Jones,  Lewis 
Gray,  Joseph  Schneider,  Robt.  Crinklaw,  Henry  P.  Crane, 
Clark  J.  Hogeboom,  Wilford  Mallory. 

Privates  Alexander  0.  Adams,  Wm.  M.  Benjamin,  John 
H.  Beam,  Jas.  H.  Bogardus,  Wm.  H.  Babcock,*  Orrin  R. 
Clark,*  Titus  R.  DeWolf,  Frederick  Diggins,  Saml.  Ellis, 
Henry  H.  Felt,  Peter  Groat,  Alonzo  B.  Graves,  Elias  J. 
Goodrich,  Dexter  Hall,  John  Howard,  John  H.  Howard, 
Wm.  M.  Hamilton,  Silas  A.  Hardy,  Almeron  Herrick,  Wm. 
H.  Jones,  Henry  E.  Knapp,  Coe  Kilgore,  Warren  W. 
Langdon,  John  W.  Langdon,  Wilbur  F.  Morris,*  Hiram 
Morris,*  Dan'l  W.  Mitchell,  Nelson  Noble,  George  H.  On- 
thank,  Patrick  O'Brien,  Horace  Plumb,  Rich'd  Pillion,  Fe- 
lix Reamer,  George  Styers,  Alexander  Smith,*  Nelson  F. 
Shearer,  Edwin  E.  Sponable,  Wm.  C.  Sullivan,  James  A. 
Tracy,  George  Townsend.  Charles  S.  Trowbridge,*  Henry 
Trebelock,  Samuel  Trebelock,  James  Thatcher,  Dan'l  W. 
Webb,  Harrison  Wing,  Samuel  Welsh ;  Madison  Monroe 
(under  cook  of  A.  D.) 

Transferred. 

Wilbur  P.  Buck,  to  non-commissioned  staff  as  Hospital 
Steward,  Corporal  Milo  S.  Brown,  promoted  Sergt.  Major. 

Privates  Wm.  J.  Casley,  Christopher  Conley,  Jeremiah 
Devine,  to  V.  R.  C.,  Wm.  Farnum,  Guy  F.  Goodman,  Theo- 


218  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

dore  Ham,  Dan'l  Hazen,  Geo.  W.  Hamilton,  Aruna  Hoi- 
brook,  Orren  Hubbard,  Henry  Hilflicker,  Natt  Huff,  Parley 
Inman,  Frank  Lam,  Emery  Ladd,  Russell  Mallory,  Edward 
McMullen,  James  O'Brien,  Henry  H.  Paynter,  George  R. 
Paynter,  Luther  Pomeroy,  Silas  H.  Roy,  Job-  Robbins,  Jas. 
H.  Smith,  Obadiah  Sands,  Joseph  Tormy,  George  Thomp- 
son, Jas.  Terrill,  John  "Wallace,  Almiron  T.  Vanleuven. 

Discharged. 

Privates  Fayette  H.  Ball,  Sam'l  H.  Ball,  Ezra  C.  Bedford, 
Nathan  C.  Barjow,  Albert  Drake,  John  B.  Fletcher,  Neil 
S.  Graves,  Byman  T.  Henry,  Justus  R.  Henry,  Bailey  S. 
Hart,  Andrew  J.  Jones,  John  Maher,  Joseph  Metcalf,  Jas. 
Madden,  Smith  W.  Nolen,  Isaac  Newell,  Robt.  P.  Roy, 
Samuel  R.  Pettingale,  Samuel  Rowland,  Charles  H.  Tucker, 
"Wm.  Wylie,  Merritt  H.  Wright. 

Died. 

Corporals  Curtis  Fuller  and  Joseph  Timony. 

Privates  Elijah  Bent,  Jas.  Cornes,  John  C.  Cook,  Augus- 
tus J.  Fletcher,  Andrew  Gamble,  Sidney  R.  Heath,  Deriaa 
Howe,  Elijah  Lyons,  Libbeus  Olcott,  Michael  P.  O'Neal, 
Christopher  Rourke,  James  F.  Smith,  Frank  Shores,  Robt. 
G.  Smith,  John  Starks,  George  W.  Smith,  Samuel  Snyder, 
Clark  P.  Thompson,  James  G.  Williams,  Thomas  Welsh, 
Win.  F.  Wallace. 

Deserted. 

Privates  Charles  Magrath,  Wm.  Campbell,  Thos.  Smith ; 
George  Adams  (under  cook  of  A.  D.) 

COMPANY   "B.1' 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Captain  James  M.  Tisdel,  First  Lieutenant  Wm.  H.  H. 
Curtis,  Second  Lieutenant  Edward  H.  Rosecrans. 

Sergeants  Henry  B.  Bogardus,  Charles  W.  Webb,  Joseph 
Sweetapple,  Wm.  Heflin,  John  G.  Morley. 

Corporals  Wm.  R.  Stevenson,  Charles  A.  Studley,  Paul 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY   VOLUNTEERS.  219 

Hostrawser,  Eobt.  Ridge,  Wm.  F.   Hill,  Smith  T.  Marvin, 
Harvey  Smith,  Wm.  B.  Chilvers. 

Privates  Julius  C.  Bishop,  George  Blatchford,  George 
Barnes,  John  Butler,  Henry  A.  Chambers,  Charles  Church, 
Daniel  Chamberlain,  Gilbert  B.  Carpenter,  Alexander  S. 
Cummings,  John  Collier,  Lemuel  Demerest,  Richard  Dela- 
ny,  Jeremiah  Fitz  Maurice,  James  G.  Goodman,*  Andrew 
Galagher,  Austin  Hovey,  Francis  T.  Houk,  Thomas  D. 
Horton,  Alfred  M.  Horton,  Oscar  F.  Herren,  Ira  D.  Hill, 
Walter  Harder,  Wellington  Harder,  Orlando  Loper,*  Har- 
mon McCoy,  Henry  J.  Munzer,  Thomas  Moore,  John  J. 
Merrill,  John  Martin,  Frederick  Morley,  John  Moore,  David 
A.  Moore,*  Joseph  Nutall,  James  0.  Donnell,  Edwin  E. 
E.  Park,  Mortimer  L.  Powell,*  George  W.  Sackett,  Sylves- 
ter L.  Stevenson,  Elias  Shockley,  Alvih  M.  Smith,  Henry 
Shattleman,  George  Spencer,  Ransom  Thompson,  Joseph  D. 
Tibbits,  Dan'l  G.  Winegar  George  W.  Winegar,  Wm.  N. 
Tyler.* 

Transferred. 

Privates  Wm.  Barr,  Smith  Collar,  -Francis  H.  Curtis, 
Garrett  Dupuy,  Lawrence  Fagan,  Thore  Johnson,  John 
Johnson,  Jeremiah  A.  Jacobs,  Chester  C.  Leach,  James 
Murphey,  John  H.  Parsons,  John  H.  Searl,  Timothy  Ser- 
geant, George  F.  Tongue,  Peter  White  (promoted  to  prin- 
cipal musician),  Wm.  0.  Newcomb,  Charles  Curtis  (pro- 
moted to  Sergt.  Major.) 

Discharged. 

Corporals  Solomon  H.  Bailey,  Chas.  B.  Drake. 

Privates  Isaac  Conner,  Peter  Cramer,  Hiram  Draper, 
George  Marvin,  Osborn  Allen,  Edward  Barker,  George  H. 
Griffin,  Elisha  J.  Leach,  Robert  Atkinson,  James  R.  Man- 
ning, Washington  Porter,  Mervin  Andrews,  David  Cox, 
Albert  C.  Haight,  David  E.  Marvin. 


Died. 
dc 

Corporal  John  Horan. 


Sergeants  Charles  Anderson,  Albert  E.  Locke,  Stephen 
A.  Rollins. 


220  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

Privates  Wm.  H.  Boyce,  John  Corcoran,  Martin  Dixon, 
Benjamin  Easton,  Charles  Farnsworth,  Wm.  H.  Mead,  Jas. 
C.  Miller,  Wm.  McNally,  Kittel  Mikkleson,  John  Randolph, 
Wm.  B.  Shepardson,  Albert  W.  Seibert,  David  F.  Studley, 
John  Sexton,  Ephraim  A.  Tyler,  Job  H.  Westbury,  Henry 
Williams,  Edwin  Hovey,  Elisha  N.  Strong. 

Deserted. 

Privates  Thomas  Kelley,  Albert  D.  Carpenter;  David 
Seams,  Gideon  Boddis,  and  Thomas  Crawford  (under  cooks 
of  A.  D.) 

COMPANY   "C.n 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Captain  Otis  H.  Smith,  First  Lieutenant  Philiar  L.  Wells, 
Second  Lieutenant  Samuel  Cutter. 

Sergeants  George  W.  Reynolds,  Stillman  Hills,  Alfred 
Bell,  Murray  E.  Randall,  Darius  C.  Kingsbury. 

Corporals  Abijah  T.  Conklin,  -Everill  J.  Hills,  Randolph 
E.  Slawson,  Wesley  D.  Miner,  Wm.  Gerrett,  Joshua  Cross, 
D  wight  F.  Allison,  Wm.  H.  Gray. 

Privates  Chas.  R.  Andrews,  Robert  L.  Burns,*  Frede- 
rick Butikofer,  Wm.  Burton,  Robt.  Buchanan,  Patrick  Bar- 
rett, Jerome  Bailey,  Alpheus  Cook,  Chas.  Chilson,*  Wm. 
H.  Chilson,  Sam'l  Cole,  Sam'l  A.  Dunham,*  Geo.  B.  Dun- 
ham,* Chas.  H.  Downs,  Byron  Degraw,  Geo.  S.  Fraden- 
burgh,  Joseph  Groskinsky,  Jos.  Gay,  Valentine  K.  M. 
Groesbeck,  Francis  D.  Garnsey,  Theodere  W.  Goodsell, 
Nathan  W.  Gary,  Willmoth  Gillis,  Orriu  F.  Hutchinson, 
Marcus  A.  Hubell,  Patrick  Hoey,*  Isaac  Harris,*  Alfred 
Hawver,  Chas.  Hawver,  John  W.  King,  George  King,  Pat- 
rick Keeler,  Augustus  Labrec,  John  Listickow,  Chas.  Mosh- 
er,  Chas.  H.  Parkhurst,*  Schuyler  J.  Piersons,  Brookins  A. 
Plummer,  Edgar  F.  Reed,*  John  M.  Smith,  Horace  L. 
Scott,  Newel  Seeley,  Willard  J.  Scott,  John  O.  Stevens, 
Benjamin  N.  Smith,*  Chas.  J.  Toby,  Asad  Udell,  Riley 
Wheeler,  Edwin  E.  Winney,  Robert  Wheeler,  Henry 
"Wheeler,  Marcus  Williamson;  Stephen  Jones  and  Lem 
Cupid  (under  cooks  of  A.  D.) 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  221 

Transferred. 

Privates  Daniel  S.  Cummings,  Thos.  L.  Dixon,  George  F. 
Downs,  John  0.  Flinn,  John  W.  Groesbeck,  Wm.  Hollister, 
Byron  A.  Howe,  James  Jewell,  Peter  Keenan,  Henry  E. 
Mose,  Waterman  Merry,  James  A.  Piersons,  Garrett  Per- 
forse,  James  N.  Reynolds,  Sherman  Rector,  Wm.  P.  Riley, 
Wm.  H.  Rector,  Joseph  H.  Scott,  James  Tulip,  Dolphus 
Vanslyke,  Bennett  T.  Wakeman  (promoted  to  Sergt.  Major, 
afterwards  transferred  as  recruit.) 

Discharged. 

Sergeants  Chas.  Armstrong,  Sam'l  S.  Sergeant. 
Corporals  Thomas  J.  Disbrow,  Chas.   B.   Dodge,  Ichabod 
M.  Meeker,  Alouzo  Wakeman. 

Privates  Ezra  C.  Burton,  Damon  W.  Davis,  George  A. 
Fish,  Henry  La  Brec,  Mahlon  Piper,  Edwin  Rector,  Adel- 
bert  Russell,  Theodore  Rebadero,  Smith  B.  Tooker,  James 
Tulip,  Jr. 

Died. 

Sergeant  Wm.  H.  Stoddard. 

Corporals  Charles  Bigsby,  Jonas  Stevens. 

Privates  Alfred  Ay  res,  Wm.  Brown,  Dan'l  S.  Broughton, 
Edwin  Bellows,  Seely  Brown,  Henry  Bills,  Thomas  J. 
Brown,  Wm.  C.  Branden,  Reuben  Cook,  Lewis  Deno,  John 
G.  DeGroat,  Edgar  I  Dodge,  George  W.  Dixon,  Nelson 
Helm,  Levi  Harp,  Sam'l  H.  Jackson,  Victor  La  Brec,  Da- 
vid D.  Lake,  William  Marshall,  Andrew  A.  McCorn,  Ma- 
rion Pease,  Ira  M.  Pearce,  Alfred  D.  Randall,  Wm.  Shult, 
Jason  W.  Smith,  Wm.  W.  Stetler,  Alexander  Snow,  Hi- 
ram Scott,  Wm.  Tooker,  Henry  Vandeusen,  James  Venard, 
George  P.  Wetlaufer,  John  H.  Wheeler,  John  Wentworth, 
Adam  Wetlaufer. 

Deserted  —  Privates  John  M.  Hunt,  Morton  B.  Kasson. 

COMPANY  "D." 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Captain  John  E.  Beckley,  First  Lieutenant  Wm.  H.  Huff- 
man, Second  Lieutenant  James  Casler. 
20 


222  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Sergeants  Onley  L.  Andrews,  Julius  E.  Baker,  Martin  D. 
Kellogg,  Sam'l  Foster,  James  Kittle. 

Corporals  Alfred  Morse,  Dwight  B.  Warner,  John  H. 
Doran,  John  Powers,  Alojpzo  Paris,  Chauncey  D.  Parker, 
Daniel  E.  Newcomb,  Carlos  DeGoff. 

Privates  Henry  Arndt,  Henry  C.  By  water,*  Wm.  Butler, 
Chas.  Booth,  John  G.  Church,*  Albert  W.  Coats,  Wm. 
Diamond,*  Lloyd  J.  Davis,  Henry  R.  Dnnton,*  Frank 
Gennett,  Nelson  Gates,  Anson  D.  Hopkins,*  Herman  Hider- 
man,  Roderick  Hodge,  August  Kappie,  George  H.  Kam,* 
Thos.  Leggett,  Richard  Lawless,  Wm.  Mulock,  Geo.  W. 
Morris,  Thos.  McFadden,  John  Nelson,*  Wm.  H.  Noyes, 
Geo.  Nugent,  Thos.  Powers,  Thos.  Peacock,  Wm.  Peacock, 
Daniel  W.  Richardson,*  Henry  M.  Shannon,  Geo.  Swindell,* 
Henry  Scalan,  Joseph  Slater,  Theodore  H.  Sedgwick,  Wm. 
Smallwood,  Chas.  Willey,  Jas.  Wallace,  Hinton  Wheeler. 

Transferred. 

Privates  Eaton  P.  Blaisdell,  Lyman  Bacon,  Horace  But- 
terfield,  Henry  W.  Beardsley,  Wm.  Dickerson,  Sam'l  H. 
Drew,  Frederick  H.  Foster,  Wm.  B.  Fry,  Mark  Goodhand, 
Geo.  A.  Hoeg,  Wm.  Jones,  Chas.  W.  Long,  Wm.  Mullen, 
Jas.  McDavis,  Frank  Manore,  Jas.  F.  Packer,  Francis  Rol- 
low,  Mark  Rebel,  Wilson  Turner,  Stanton  D.  Warner. 

Discharged. 

Sergeants  Hiram  M.  Bryant,  Jas.  Casler,  Frederick  Ley- 
man. 

Corporal  Stanton  D.  Warner. 

Privates  Henry  W.  Beardsley,  Henry  J.  Chittenden, 
Edson  J.  Davis,  George  E.  Dunn,  Andrew  Henderson,  Ben- 
nett Hicks,  John  L.  Keller,  John  Leggett,  Miron  L  Lee, 
John  G.  Mauney,  Milton  McCollum,  Philip  L.  Melius, 
Able  W.  Noyes,  Jas.  L.  Payne,  Jas.  W.  Powers,  Jas.  W. 
Ryan,  Wm.  H.  Rotnour,  W"m.  St.  Clair,  Wm.  S.  Shales, 
John  Tromblee,  Abram  Vanbogart,  Cornelius  Vanbogart, 
Orlando  Vanbogart,  Wm.  A.  Wright,  Wm.  H.  Cook,  John 
KeepsilL 


ILLINOIS   INFANTEY  VOLUNTEERS.  223 

Died. 

Sergeant  Chas.  C.  Barnes. 

Corporals  Enos  H.  Barnes,  Chas.  ~W.  Foster,  Phillip  R. 
Morris,  Paul  Shawl,  Emer  Nallen,  Thos.  McLean. 

Privates  John  Booth,  Alonzo  D.  Crocker,  Charles  H. 
Francisco,  Thos  Fitzsimmons,  Jas.  Fleming,  Andrew  Huff, 
Joseph  Hutson,  David  Housel,  Carl  Leher,  Wm.  R.  Miller, 
Andrew  Olson,  Chas.  H.  Paine,  Richard  Taylor,  Elijah  P. 
Weaver,  Levi  Waterman,  Isaac  Wescot ;  Scip.  Weather- 
ford  (under  cook  of  A.  D.) 

Deserted. 
Privates  Wm.  G.  Gleason,  Lewis  Medock,  John  Tromblee. 


COMPANY  UE." 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Captain  John  Eddy,  First  Lieutenant  Asa  Farnum,* 
Second  Lieutenant  Albert  J.  Alderman. 

Sergeants  William  Andrews,  Edwin  R.  Morris,  Clark 
Rogers,  Frederick  Maushak,  George  V.  Barnard. 

Corporals  Patrick  H.  Kennedy,  Andrew  Fern,  James 
Stevenson.  Thomas  Cohill,  George  W.  Miller,  Amos  Capron, 
David  S.  Marshall. 

Privates  John  D.  Atwater,  Dwight  Andrus,  Henry  An- 
drus,  Oscar  Andrus,*  John  Alexander,  Chas.  Burton,  Chas. 
Ballard,  Joseph  Brown,  Delo  Bunnell,  John  W.  Burnside,* 
James  Barry,  McKendee  F.  Bishop,  George  G.  Blake, 
Chas.  S.  Blakesley,  Peter  Breen,  Frank  G.  Ball,*  Darwin 
Barrows,  Dexter  S.  Cowles,  George  Cline,  Robert  Cum- 
mings,*  Fuller  V.  Colver,  Nathaniel  Colver,  Guiles  M. 
Durkee,  John  David,  Andrew  Farrell,  John  Flemming, 
Luther  D.  Fillmore,  Woodberry  Hardy,  Chas.  A.  Holden, 
Aaron  Howard,  Andrew  P.  Howard,  John  P.  Jewett,  Ezra 
0.  Knapp,  John  C.  Lightner,  David  Little,  John  J.  Mosser, 
Ephraim  A.  Marsh,  John  Murphy,  Girnri  S.  Molton,  Ro- 
manzo  Moore,  Francis  H.  Nickles,  Porter  B.  Nickles,* 
Samuel  L.  A.  Patchin,  Joseph  A.  Ross,  William  Swart, 
Andrew  W.  Sears,*  Ward  B.  Smith,*  James  Stott,  Jacob 


224  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Vrooman,  Joseph  Weaver,  Albert  Wheelon,  Frederick  E. 
Woodward,  Ira  Webber,  James  White,  Nathaniel  White, 
Joseph  G.  Young. 

Transferred. 

Corporals  Chauncey  G.  Wait,  Moses  C.  Fitzer. 

Privates  John  H.  Brown,  Allison  C.  Bulard,  Patrick 
Breen,  Lawrence  Breen,  Richard  Brown,  Henry  Bright, 
Norman  Clapp,  Thomas  Corcoran,  Jas.  Carroll,  Richard 
Cahill,  Wm.  Day,  Ashael  Eddy,  Henry  C.  Eddy,  Illot  G. 
Gillot,  Wm.  H.  Glass,  Thomas  Holliday,  Justus  Knapp, 
Linus  F.  Larkins,  George  D  Lillie,  John  Jobe,  Thomas 
Robinson,  Charles  C.  Reynolds,  Newell  D.  Sanford,  Merrit 
C.  Stoddard,  Wm.  Thompson,  Israel  Wood. 

Discharged. 

Sergeants  John  Prowse,  Frank  M.  Jewett. 

Corporal  Jas.  Stott. 

Privates  Wm.  H.  Ballard,  Francis  H.  Burnside,  Clark 
Bulard,  Clark  A.  Beebe,  Edgar  Bowen,  John  E.  Best,  Wm. 
H.  Brown,  Uriah  L.  Colgrove,  Uri  Farr,  Sanford  Hardy, 
John  Hatch,  Henry  Jobe,  Chas.  Morgan,  Marcus  L.  Olm- 
stead,  Daniel  Piper,  Daniel  A.  Steadman,  William  F.  Smith, 
John  J.  W.  Starr,  Ahira  Thompson,  Jas.  Tuley,  Jacob 
Vedder. 

Died. 

Privates  John  L.  Alderman,  Jas.  Best,  William  Bassett, 
George  Bassett,  George  Barrows,  David  Beck,  Turner 
Calkins,  Wesley  J.  Colgrove,  Jas.  B.  Delamater,  Clark 
Everest,  Levi  F.  Fitzer,  Jas.  Kennedy,  Jas.  McEwen  Lee, 
Samuel  Mullis,  Henry  Maddick,  George  Miller,  Carlos  J. 
Morse,  Elias  H.  Nettleton,  John  W.  Oaks,  Martin  Perry, 
Richard  Prowse,  Hiram  Stevens,  Elisha  H.  Higley  (missing, 
and  supposed  dead) ;  Henry  Kelley  (under  cook  of  A.  D.) 

Deserted. 

Privates  George  Hald,  Jacob  Myer ;  Aaron  Janes  (under 
cook  of  A.  D.) 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  225 

COMPANY  "F." 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Captain  Wm.  H.  Stewart,  First  Lieutenant  M.  F.  Ells- 
worth,* Second  Lieutenant  George  Eckert. 

Sergeants  Frederick  D.  Snyder,  Rufus  Thompson,*  Alex. 
Hunter,  Joseph  Roden. 

Corporals  Allen  Giles,  Edgar  Fox,  Patrick  H.  Walsh, 
Martin  Tiffany,  Dewitt  C.  McCrary,  Egbert  Fox,  Peter 
Zimmer,  Andrew  Oleson. 

Privates  Franklin  Alvord,  George  R.  Bassett,  Linus  E. 
Boomer,  Thos.  Blakeslee,  Milo  Churchill,  Theodore  Cham- 
bers, Henry  W.  Chase,  Barney  Etten,  Ezra  Fox,*  Milon 
Fosdick,  Hiram  R.  Grey,  Oscar  Hickox,  Jacob  Kohn,  John 
Lutzen,  Nicholas  Myer,  Patrick  McNeemy,  Wm.  C.  Neale, 
Peet  Overton,  Michael  Powers,  Azariah  Rider,  Thos.  Sutton, 
John  Stampp,  Jas.  Smith,  Walter  Thompson,*  Dewey 
Thompson,*  Alexander  Tweed,  Clark  Waterman,  Luman 
C.  Wheelock,  Peter  G,  Weitzel ;  Sam'l  Austin  and  Dick 
Hilliard  (under  cooks  of  A.  D.) 

Transferred. 

Privates  Silas  Baker,  John  Barrett,  Morris  F.  Brown, 
Francis  P.  Dickinson,  Robt.  Feely,  Thomas  Glennore,  John 
H.  King,  Joseph  Lester,  Thos.  Liudsey,  Alanson  0.  Moore, 
Peter  Munro,  Patrick  O'Brien,  George  B.  Wiltshire. 

Discharged. 

Corporal  Wm.  P.  Phelon. 

Privates  Adelbert  Albright,  Lewis  Ballard,  Jonathan  W. 
Covey,  Wm.  J.  Daily,  Chas.  L.  Ellsworth,  Aretus  K.  Field, 
John  B.  Hulbert,  Alfred  Hues,  Albert  Hayward,  Edward 
E.  Lawless,  Wm.  H.  H.  Lawless,  Geo.  W.  Parsons,  Morris 
J.  Parks,  Wm.  A.  Parker,  Benjamin  B.  Reynolds,  John  B. 
Sanford,  Justus  M.  Sheffield,  Cyrus  Wheelock. 

Died. 

Sergeant  James  Tibbetts. 

Privates  Wm.  A.  Churchill,  Joseph  H.  Cooper,  Joseph 
Cutforth,  Geo.  W.  French,  Darius  W.  Green,  Peter  J. 


226  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Haggerty,  Henry  Hess,  Henry  E.  Hicks,  Wm.  Jacobs, 
Henry  L.  Kerr,  Patrick  Kelly,  Hubert  Mertz,  Archibald 
Marshall,  Nelson  Martin,  George  W.  Nichols,  Sylvester  M. 
Paddock,  Oliver  E.  Pomeroy,  Dan'I  W.  Ryan,  Alonzo  C. 
Swan,  Thos.  Skillicorn,  Chas.  Sutton,  Chas.  Stevers,  George 
Lawyer,  John  Sullivan,  Jas.  Tibbetts,  Josiah  Tuttle,  John 
W.  Vasey. 

Deserted. 

Privates  Charles  H.  Cornish,  Frank  Hardin,  Lorenzo 
Parker,  Jas.  M.  Sheffield,  John  Walter. 

COMPANY  "G.11 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Captain  Henry  M.  Bush,  First  Lieutenant  Jeremiah  Wil- 
cox,  Second  Lieutenant  David  Wilkie.* 

Sergeants  Daniel  B.  Cornell,*  D wight  S.  Gookins,  Geo. 
M.  Bell,  Benson  B.  Arbunckle,  Wm.  Gilkerson.* 

Corporals  Wells  Briggs,*  John  M.  Smith,  Marcus  R.  Ab- 
bott, James  S.  Robbins,  Edward  L.  Foot,  Robt.  Horan, 
Thomas  Hannah,  Jr. 

Privates  John  Allen,  Peter  Ashland,*  Orrin  Barnes,  Geo. 
L.  Bennett,  Albert  Blood,  Eli  Brain ard,  Nathan  L.  Bristol, 
Henry  M.  Bacon,  Albert  D.  J.  Cashier,  Hawley  A.  Cas- 
well,*  Charles  Danforth,  John  H.  Dible,  Benj.  F.  Eastman, 
Hawley  Feakins,  Wm.  H.  Frederick,  Parker  T.  Gibbs, 
Charles  H.  Gleason,  Buel  F.  Hanks,  John  M.  Hogan,  Shir- 
ley A.  Johnson,  Darwin  E.  Keeler,*  Eber  Lucas,  Joseph  E. 
McCormick,  Jay  H.  Morton,  J.  Adderly  Moore,  John  Mor- 
rison,* Charles  C.  Mullen,  Amos  Norton,  Henry  O'Neil, 
George  A.  Oaks,  Orris  C.  Peebles,  Samuel  Pepper,  Wm.  P. 
Perry,  Richard  D.  Pierce,  John  Ramsey,*  Henry  Riley, 
Washington  Robb,  Sylvester  L.  Russell,  Joy  H.  Saxton,* 
Wm.  M.  Saum,  Jacob  Seibert,*  Wm.  L.  Smith,  Chas.  P. 
Stocking,*  Geo.  W.  Snow,  Patrick  F.  Sughrue,  Eugene  H. 
Thomas,  Daniel  Weaver,  Leslie  Williams,  Frederick  Wood, 
Wm.  Whitehead ;  Abram  Boram  (under  cook  of  A.  D.) 

Transferred. 
Privates  James  Conner,  Willis  Case,   Lyman   L.  Downs, 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  227 

Martin  L.  Field,  John  W.  Houghtaling,  David  Milks,  Sam'l 
"W.  Sweet,  Jacob  Stenner,  Edgar  Stafford,  Peter  Wise, 
Richard  C.  Wolverton. 

Discharged. 

Corporals  Robert  D.  Hannah,    Christopher  N.    Wilson. 

Privates  William  Bryden,  Peter  Byron,  John  D.  Cas- 
well,  David  E.  Chase,  Henry  F.  Childs,  George  W. 
Downs,  H.  Ford  Douglas,  Charles  Farrisworth,  Wm.  H. 
Garland,  Pierce  Gilbert,  Wm.  W.  Hill,  John  Heckm&n, 
Edgar  N.  Lincoln,  Luther  A.  Orcutt,  Melvin  A.  Randall. 

Died. 

Sergeant  James  S.  Collins. 

Corporals  Richard  0.  Gunn,  Henry  L.  Potter,  Almond 
Quackenboss. 

Privates  John  E.  Benedict,  Charles  Barnes,  Royal  Briggs, 
Charles  0.  Collins,  Daniel  W.  Cahoon,  Thomas  Doran,  Wm. 
H.  Feakins,  Wm.  E.  Gunn,  Rufus  B.  Gile,  Michael  Hoyn, 
Warren  Hamlin,  Hiram  Hudson,  Horace  C.  Hakes,  John 
Halloway,  Arba  Lankton,  William  Middleton,  Josiah  Or- 
cutt, Carroll  J.  Pray,  David  F.  Russell,  Wm.  Ray,  Jr.,  Geo. 
E.  Randall,  James  Wight,  Andrew  De  Wolf. 

Deserted. 

Privates  Joseph  Ward,  Wm.  L.  Borst ;  Wm.  Gibson 
and  Henry  Boyd  (under  cooks  of  A.  D.) 

COMPANY  "H." 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Captain  James  H.  Wetmore,  First  Lieutenant  Wm.  B. 
Walker,  Second  Lieutenant  John  P.  Ransom. 

Sergeants  Charles  W.  Freeman,  Nehemiah  T.  Moore,* 
Milton  R.  Goddard,  Henry  Freeman,  Mathew  W.  Marten. 

Corporals  Wyman  Wilson,  Henry  Waterman,  Wallace 
J.  Wilson,  Eugene  I.  Thomas,  Moses  Frazier,  Henry  H. 
Rowe,  Nathan  H.  Utter. 

Privates  John  Q.  Adams,  John  G.  Bailey,  John  Bogart, 
George  W.  Bellknapp,  Harrison  Berry,  Franklin  Cole,  Je- 


228  HISTORY  OP  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

rome  Copeley,  George  Clark,  Wm.  W.  Daniel,  Joshua  Dia- 
mond, Benjamin  Puller,  Francis  Gates,  Wm.  Gotbed,  Jas. 
Gardner,  John  H.  Holland,*  Job  Hathaway,*  Gideon  C. 
Hammer,*  Samuel  D.  Porter,  Willard  D.  Paine,  Benjamin 
A.  Parker,  Sumner  Sayles,  John  W.  Sanborn,  Authur  A. 
Sheldon,*  Rial  Smith,*  James  Strain,  Peter  Strain,*  Ernest 
D.  Stilson,  Charles  L.  Turner,  Van  Buren  Truesdell,  John 
Thompson,  James  Walsh,  James  Welch,  Theodore  E. 
WJfinwright,  Casper  Wirfs,  Gibson  Wright ;  Benjamin  Ab- 
bott, Wm.Dodd  and  Matthew  Ferguson  (under  cooks  of  A.D.) 

Transferred. 

Privates  George  Barnard,  Henry  Barlow,  John  C.  Becker, 
John  N.  Barbor,  Lawrence  D.  Blackman,  Martin  Cole,  Har- 
vey C.  Cowdry,  James  Duffy,  John  Eckert,  John  T.  Groger, 
Lewis  L.  Galusha,  James  G.  Graves,  Jackson  Hammers, 
Jeremiah  Halderman,  Wm.  E.  Hughes,  Lucius  J.  Hobart, 
Theodore  Ingham,  Charles  D.  Judd,  Charles  E.  Peterson, 
Marvel  Pierce,  Philo  Roe,  Patrick  Roache,  Wm.  G.  Tan- 
ner, Jacob  Westerman,  Caleb  L.  Williams. 

Discharged. 

Sergeants  Mark  Hathaway,  Charles  H.  Hitchcock,  Schuy- 
ler  Marvin. 

Corporal  Wesley  Scranton. 

Privates  Thomas  Anderson,  Albert  B.  Boone,  George  W. 
Bellknapp,  Frederick  Eppel,  Charles  C.  Fay,  Ira  F.  Fay, 
George  T.  Freeman,  John  B.  Groat,  Jackson  Hammer,  Hen- 
ry Hart,  John  Hughes,  Robert.  J.  Kerle.  Edward  G.  Kern- 
ball,  Charles  H.  Merchant,  Hartwell  S.  Meade,  Amel  Nib- 
eck,  Peter  C.  Riley,  Charles  Simmons,  Moses  Sawyer,  Hen- 
ry C.  Swan,  Charles  Tesman,  Wm.  Wray,  Benjamin  Casey. 
Died. 

Sergeants  Norman  Baldwin,  Richard  D.  Bailey. 

Privates  Lewis  E.  Gala  Willard  Kimball,  Benj.  F. 
Springer,  Julius  Bultke,  Watson  Clary,  John  R.  Erken- 
breck,  Thomas  Ferguson,  Horace  Freeman,  Collin  Hughes, 
Olney  King,  Jas.  N.  Murphy,  Thomas  R.  Meade,  Irwin 
Porter,  Thomas  Rees,  Clark  R.  Sanford,  Fayette  A.  Thomas, 
Edgar  Town,  Spencer  Ward. 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  229 

Deserted. 

Privates  Richard  Benneke,  Doctor  F.  Cushman,  Harmon 
Poppe,  Henry  Poppe. 

COMPANY  "I." 
Mustered  out  with,  Regiment. 

Captain  James  Nish,  First  Lieutenant  Wm.  H.  Ide,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  Asa  L.  Weaver. 

Sergeants  Edwin  Gilbert,  Edwin  R.  Crabtree,  Bemin  K. 
Sparawk,  Henry  Van  Camp,  John  W.  Lockwood. . 

Corporals  Jas.  Kee,  Jas.  M.  Allen,  Jas.  H.  Van  Camp, 
Alfred  K.  Nash,  Warren  W".  Cady,  Joseph  C.  Johnston, 
Vernon  N.  Ford,  Francis  Corkins. 

Privates  James  W.  Bethysen,*  George  W.  Burgess, 
Wm.  R.  Burr,  Alexander  Bell,  Marshall  B.  Brink,*  Amos 
M.  Bates,  Oscar  S.  Crabtree,  Patrick'  Crowley,  Wm.  P. 
Champlin,  John  Campbell,*  W"m.  B.  Crane,*  Levi  A.  Cor- 
kins, Justus  Chapman,*  Thomas  M.  Doyle,  Isaac  Edwards, 
David  Edwards,  Charles  Edson,*  Charles  Gunderson,  Wm. 
H.  Goodenough,  Austin  Lindsey,  George  H.  Makins,  Na- 
poleon B.  Morrison,  Wm.  J.  Miller,  John  Makins,  Willard 
A.  McNitt,  Nathaniel  Nish,  Jas.  O'Donoho,  Dennis  O'Day, 
Hezekiah  P.  Schuyler,  David  G.  Shales,  Benjamin  B.  Shel- 
ey,  Isaac  J.  Smith,  Franklin  L.  Smith,*  John  G.  Smith, 
Isaac  E.  Wheeler,  Wm.  M.  Wilcox,  Samuel  S.  Crabtree, 
Davis  Harris  (missing  in  action.) 

Transferred. 

Privates  Alonzo  Andrews,  Wm.  C.  Brown,  Windfield 
S.  Coss,  Wm.  Coss,  Franklin  E.  Cox,  John  Larson,  Alex- 
ander Nish,  Daniel  Alson,  Patrick  O'Brien,  Charles  H.  Pad- 
dock, Elias  G.  Rhoades,  Edward  P.  Slater,  John  Tiffany, 
Amos  Wallace,  Luzerne  E.  Warner,  Wm.  H.  Barley, 
Franklin  H.  Bosworth,  Truman  Churchill,  Orville  E.  Shely, 
John  J.  Adams,  Horace  B.  Allen. 

Discharged. 

Sergeants  John  R.  Church,  Andrew  M.  Green. 
Privates  David  Corbin,  John   H.  Corl,   Patrick  Corkins, 
Addison  D.  Fowler,  David  Cummings,  John  F.  Gary,  Doras 
21 


230  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Calkins,  Andrew  M.  Green,  John  Hogan,  Abram  Hannas, 
George  P.  Keller,  Christopher  Kalahan,  Henry  Lindsey, 
John  Morris,  John  Q.  Miller,  Noah  H.  Pratt,  Sam'l  T.  Pad- 
dison,  Stephen  R.  Pert,  Edward  P.  Slater,  Thompson 
Smock,  John  J.  Schnyder,  Adelbert  A.  Thomas,  John  R. 
Thompson,  Abram  Underkarr,  Clark  Weldon,  Edwin  Wil- 
liams, Sylvester  Lawson. 

Died. 

Sergeants  George  Titcomb. 

Corporals  Samuel  E.  Thomas,  Charles  F.  Dodd,  Bishop 
B.  Pettibone,  Charles  W.  Carpenter. 

Privates  Charles  C.  Cromwell,  Ambrose  B.  Ford,  Francis 
Geherke,  Conrad  Gotterman,  David  F.  Huntley,  Charles 
Loomis,  Christopher  Martin,  Albert  W.  Torrence,  Sam'l  G. 
Vanhorn,  Elijah  B.  Way,  Thomas  J.  Wilcox,  Wesley 
Wallace. 

Deserted. 

Privates  Henry  Alfing,  Michael  Gordon,  John  B.  Haffy, 
Samuel  Tibbetts. 

COMPANY   "K." 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 

Captain  Almon  Schellenger,  First  Lieutenant  Alonzo 
Brooks,  Second  Lieutenant  Alfred  D.  Cheney. 

Sergeants  Sewell  Vanalstine,  John  Vanantwerp,  Henry 
Morgan,  Joseph  P.  Smith,  Joseph  R.  Lilley. 

Corporals  Laughlin  Scougall,  John  T.  Burrough,*  Thos. 
W.  Bowman,  Gardner  C.  Wright,  Stephen  Dimond,  Hans 
Stall. 

Privates  Cordenio  Bruce,*  Sam'l  Bowman,  Robt.  Blake, 
John  P.  Coleman,  Jas.  Dymond,*  John  D.  Dullam,  James 
Ellis,  Charles  W.  Fross,  William  Gibbs,  Fredolen  Geng,* 
Roswell  Guile,  Wm.  Hutchins,  Henry  Hill,*  Charles  Kirk, 
Gideon  B.  Lewis,  James  Landon,  Emery  Lamel,  Thomas 
Oleson,  David  Pichard,*  Benj.  B.  Parks,*  Henry  B.  Put- 
nam, Wm.  J.  Rodawalt,  Stephen  Rodawalt,  Henry  M.  Re- 
ser,  Jay  Renne,  Wm.  Reed,  Joseph  Sewell,  George  W. 
Streeter,  Henry  A.  Streeter,*  John  H.  Sitzer,  Rufus  Smith, 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  231 

George  W.   Stockwell,    James  Vickers,*  Thomas  Vincent, 
Abner  Wakefield,  Leonard  Wakefield,  Philip  P.  Wheldon. 

Transferred. 

Privates  Wm.  H.  Booth,  John  Desmore,  George  0.  Els- 
worth,  Eugene  Elsworth,  Jirald  N.  B.  Joslin,  Robt.  Lafea- 
rer,  John  R.  Livingston,  John  G.  Mansfield,  John  McCurtis, 
Thomas  Muggins,  Rufus  Marks,  Augustus  Peck,  Jas.  Reed, 
Abraham  Stockwell,  George  Shannon,  James  P.  Smith,  Olen- 
der  A.  Salisbury,  Theodore  Willson,  Isaac  Watts,  Wm. 
Watts,  A.  Webster. 

Discharged. 

Corporals  Wm.  H.  Chappell,  Sam'l  H.  Hills. 

Privates  Martin  Butler,  Eli  Burdick,  Wm.  A.  Burdick, 
Hiram  Barnes,  Willard  Hutchins,  Roswell  E.  Hovey,  Geo. 
E.  Hanover,  Alexander  Klumph,  Orson  0.  Miller,  Horatio 
N.  North,  Nelson  Oleson,  Andrew  Oleson,  Robert  Robin- 
son, Aretemus  Rolo,  Henry  Steele,  Sam'l  D.  Sherman,  Jas. 
B.  Scougall,  Thomas  Shackle,  Charles  E.  Sherman,  Wm.  H. 
Stockwell,  Ira  Smith,  Henry  Vanderwacker,  Lewis  W.  E. 
Webster,  Daniel  Wakefield,  Schuyler  Wakefield. 

Died. 

Sergeants  Joseph  W.  Bowman,  Gabriel  J.  Cornwell. 

Corporals  Joseph  N.  Smith,  Leland  K.  Green. 

Privates  John  H.  Atkinson,  Henry  S.  Butterfield,  Wm. 
T.  Baker,  Thomas  Ball,  Benjamin  W.  Bowman,  Stephen  N. 
Brown,  Richard  Emmons,  A^jjAus  Hill,  AlansonT.  Knox, 
John  W.  Lumley,  Nathanre^Tiightfoot,  Jarvis  Mclntyre, 
Jacob  Ostrum,  Sam'l  Oatcalt,  Hanson  Perkins,  George  W. 
Sawyer,  Simeon  W.  Spencer,  Edmoii  M.  Slater,  Rolin  G. 
Story,  George  Vanderwacker,  James  P.  Vickers,  James 
Vincent,  Martin  Vandyke,  Duane  W.  Weller,  Cyrus  L. 
Warren. 

Deserted. 

Corporal  Henry  L.  Vanderwacker. 

Privates  Fred  Labontes,  Robt.  Richmon,  Wm.  Reggolds. 


232  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

LIST   OF   COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS   AND 
ENLISTED  MEN, 

Wounded  while  in  the  Service. 
FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Col.  Thos.  "W.  Humphrey,  severely  wounded  in  foot, 
May  19,  1863,  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.;  killed  in  action  at  Gun- 
town,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864. 

Lieut.  Col.  Wm.  T.  Avery,  severely  wounded  in  thighs, 
May,  1863,  at  Vicksburg,  Miss. 

Surgeon  John  W.  Green,  severely  wounded  in  neck  at 
siege  of  Spanish  Fort,  Ala. 

Sergt.  Maj.  Charley  Curtis,  wounded  slightly  in  back  at 
siege  of  Spanish  Fort,  Ala. 

COMPANY  UA." 

Corporal  John  Kennedy,  wounded  in  left  arm  in  skirmish 
at  Lake  Providence,  La.,  Feb.  10,  1863;  also  in  left  knee 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  15,  1864;  leg  amputated. 

In  charge  on  enemy's  works  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May 
19  and  22,  1863.  2nd  Lieut.  Jas.  E.  Sponable,  in  right 
foot.  Corporals  Wm.  H.  Saunders,  Geo.  W.  Sponable. 
Privates  Robt.  G.  Smith,  Dan'l  W.  Mitchell,  Libbeus  Olcott, 
John  H.  Beam,  Augustus  J.  Fletcher,  Theodore  Ham,  John 
H.  Howard,  Justus  R.  Henry,  Andrew  J.  Jones,  Wilford 
Mallory,  Smith  Nolan,  Richard  Pillion,  Silas  H.  Roy,  Nel- 
son F.  Shearer,  Jas.  G.  Williams,  Frank  Shores.  Private 
John  Howard,  wounded  June ,20,  1863,  in  back  of  head,  by 
fragment  of  our  shell,  while  on  duty  in  rifle-pits  as  sharp- 
shooter. Private  Sam'l  Snyder,  leg  broken  by  explosion  at 
Fort  De  Russey,  March  16,  1864. 

At  Blair's  Plantation,  La.,  April  12,  1864.  Sergt.  Benj. 
S.  Parker,  in  left  leg  and  side.  Corporal  Lafayette  Wands. 
Privates  Christopher  Conley,  John  C.  Cook,  Coe  Kilgore, 
G*o.  W.  Hamilton,  Henry  E.  Knapp. 

At  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864.  Privates  Wilbur  F. 
Morris,  John  Wallace,  Jeremiah  Dervine. 

At  Spanish  Fort,  Ala.,  March,  1864.  Sergt.  Wm.  H. 
Saunders,  in  throat.  Privates  Smith  Nolan,  in  knee; 


ILLINOIS  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  233 

Joseph  Forney,  in  breast;  Elijah  Lyons,  in  foot;  Henry 
Hilflicker,  in  ear ;  Dan'l  W.  Mitchell,  in  elbow ;  Geo.  W. 
Hamilton,  in  hand ;  Wm.  W.  Hamilton,  in  side.  Corporals 
Wm.  H.  Saunders,  Lewis  Grey,  and  Privates  Parley  Inman, 
Emery  J.  Ladd,  wounded  while  with  detachment  in  Georgia 
campaign. 

COMPANY  "B." 

Private  John  Sexton,  in  skirmish  near  Lake  Providence, 
La.,  Feb.  10,  1863. 

At  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  19  and  22,  1863.  Sergeant 
Chas.  Anderson  Corporal  John  Horan  (died  of  wounds). 
Privates  Benj.  Easton  (died  of  wounds),  Thos.  Moore,  John 
Martin,  Alfred  M.  Horton,  David  Cox,  Alex.  S.  Cummingg, 
Orlando  Loper,  James  R.  Manning,  Wm.  R.  Stevenson, 
John  Sexton,  Job  H.  Westbury  (died  of  wounds.)  Private 
David  F.  Studley,  wounded  June  10,  1863,  at  Vicksburg, 
Miss,,  (died  of  wounds). 

At  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864.  Lieut.  Jas.  M. 
Tisdel,  severely,  in  leg.  Sergt.  Stephen  A.  Rollins  (died  of 
wounds.)  Corporal  Joseph  Sweetapple.  Privates  Henry 
Williams  (died  of  wounds),  Washington  Porter.  Private 
John  H.  Searls,  wounded  in  action  near  Baker's  Ridge,  Ga. 

COMPANY  "C." 

In  charge  on  enemy's  works  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  Jan.  19 
and  22,  1863.  1st  Lieut.  Otis  H.  Smith,  in  hand.  Sergts. 
Wm.  H.  Stoddard,  in  thigh,  (died  of  wounds);  Samuel 
Cutter,  in  shoulder.  Corporals  Chas.  Bigsby,  in  hand,  knee 
and  heel,  (died  of  wounds);  Edgar  J.  Dodge,  in  shoulder, 
(died  of  wounds).  Privates  Wm.  H.  Chilsen,  in  hand ; 
John  W.  King,  in  hand ;  Patrick  Hovey,  in  thigh ;  Reuben 
Cook,  in  hand,  (died  of  wounds) ;  Dan'l  S.  Broughton,  in 
neck,  (died  of  wounds);  Wm.  Brown,  in  body,  (died  of 
wounds) ;  Alpheus  Cook,  in  shoulder ;  Chas.  Chilson,  in 
hand ;  Theodore  W.  Goodsell,  in  hand ;  Wm.  Marshall,  in 
thigh ;  Ira  M.  Pierce,  in  thigh ;  Randolph  E.  Slawson,  in 
head ;  Edwin  E.  Winney,  in  hand ;  Jas  W.  Smith,  in  head, 
(died  of  wounds).  Private  Robt.  Buchanan,  in  arm,  at 
battle  of  Yellow  Bayou,  La.,  May  18,  1864.  Sergt.  Geo. 
W.  Reynolds,  in  arm,  at  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864. 


234  HISTORY  OF  THE   NINETY-FIFTH 

Corporal  Wm.  Gerrett,  in  arm,  at  Guntown,  Miss.,' June  10, 
1864.  Private  Dan'l  S.  Cummings,  in  wrist,  at  siege  of 
Spanish  Fort,  March  27,  1865.  Private  Wm.  Marshall,  in 
thigh,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  (died  of  wounds). 

COMPANY  "D."- 

At  Yicksburg,  Miss.,  May  19  and  22,  1863.  Captain 
Edward  J.  Cook  (died  of  wounds  June  11,  1863).  Sergt. 
Chas.  C.  Barnes  (died  of  wounds  June  1,  1863).  Privates 
Wm.  B.  Fry,  J.  Hutson,  Andrew  Olson,  Henry  C.  Bywater, 
Chas.  H.  Francisco  (died  of  wounds  June  7,  1863),  John 
Leggett,  Mark  Reble,  (also  wounded  June  14,  1863),  Henry 
M,  Shannon,  George  Swindell,  Levi  Waterman.  Private 
Henry  Arndt,  wounded  June  4,  1863,  while  in  camp,  by 
shot  from  the  enemy.  Private  Alonzo  D.  Crocker,  acci- 
dentally shot  in  hand,  May  20,  1863,  (died  of  wounds.) 
Private  James  Wallis,  in  battle  at  Cane  River,  La.,  April 
22,  1864. 

At  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864.  Captain  John  E. 
Beckley.  Corporal  John  H.  Doran.  Privates  Wm.  Dia- 
mond, John  Keepsel,  Thos.  Powers,  Wm.  Mullen. 

COMPANY  "E." 

Sergt.  John  Prowse,  accidentally,  in  hand,  by  discharge  of 
his  own  gun,  Dec.  21,  1862.  Corporal  Thos.  Cahill,  in 
knee,  at  Lake  Providence,  La.,  Feb.  21,  1863. 

At  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  19  and  22,  1863.  Sergts, 
John  W.  Burnside ;  Frank  M.  Jewett,  in  thigh,  by  a  piece 
of  shell.  Corporal  James  Stevenson,  by  shell.  Privates 
Chas.  Burton,  in  shoulder,  by  a  ball ;  David  Little,  in  hand ; 
John  Murphy,  in  hand ;  John  Morse ;  George  Kline,  by 
explosion  of  a  shell ;  Clark  Everest,  by  a  shell.  Private 
Albert  Wheelon,  May  23,  1863,  in  hand,  by  a  ball.  Cor- 
poral Amos  Capron,  Jan.  14,  1863,  in  shoulder.  Sergt. 
Clark  Rogers,  in  thigh,  Aug.  6,  1864,  near  Atlanta,  Ga. 

COMPANY    "F." 

At  Vicksburg,  Miss.  Privates  Peter  Munis,  in  leg  ; 
Nicholas  Myer,  in  side ;  Robt.  Feely,  in  hand ;  Cyrus  Whee- 
lock,  in  hip ;  Wm.  J.  Dailey,  in  hand ;  G.  W.  French,  in 
shoulder ;  H.  Kerr ;  Joseph  Cutforth,  in  foot  and  ancle, 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  235 

(died  of  wounds)  ;  Henry  Hess,  Martin  Tiffany.  Private 
Peter  Weitzel,  in  hand,  April  12,  1864,  at  Blair's  Planta- 
tion, La.  Corporal  Allen  Giles,  arm  broken,  March  16, 
1864,  at  Fort  De  Kussey. 

At  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864.  Capt.  Wm.  H. 
Stewart,  in  thighs.  1st  Lieut.  M.  F.  Ellsworth,  in  hand. 
Private  Patrick  McNeeny,  in  leg.  Private  Con.  Lutzen,  in 
foot,  at  Spanish  Fort,  Ala. 

COMPANY  "G-." 

At  Vicksburg,  Miss.  .  Sergts.  Charles  W.  Ives,  in  hips, 
sererely,  by  minnie  ball;  Jeremiah  Wilcox,  in  hand,  slight- 
ly, by  minnie  ball ;  Daniel  B.  Cornell,  in  face,  severely,  by 
minnie  ball ;  Dwight  S.  Gookins,  in  hand,  slightly,  by  minnie 
ball.  Corporals  Henry  L.  Potter,  in  face,  slightly,  by  min- 
nie ball ;  Richard  0.  Gunn,  in  hand,  severely,  by  minnie 
ball.  Privates  Peter  Byron,  in  thigh,  severely,  by  minnie 
ball ;  Jacob  Seibert,  in  hand,  slightly,  by  minnie  ball ;  Ben- 
son R.  Arbunckle,  in  back,  slightly,  by  minnie  ball ;  Robert 
Hannah,  in  ancle  and  thigh,  slightly,  by  minnie  ball ;  Albert 
Blood,  in  head,  slightly,  by  buck  shot ;  Eli  Brainard, 
severely,  in  both  shoulders,  arm,  neck  and  hand,  by  five 
minnie  balls ;  Carrol  J.  Pray,  in  shoulder,  severely,  by  min- 
nie ball,  (died  of  wounds.) 

At  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864.  Privates  Michael 
Hogan,  in  thigh,  severely,  (leg  amputated,  died  of  wounds)  ; 
John  Morrison,  through  body,  severely,  by  minnie  ball. 

At  Spanish  Fort,  Ala.  Privates  Jacob  Seibert,  in  left 
arm,  severely,  by  piece  of  shell,  (arm  amputated) ;  George 
A.  Oaks,  in  neck,  slightly,  by  minnie  ball ;  Peter  Wiese,  in 
leg,  slightly,  by  piece  of  shell.  Corporal  Robt.  Hannah,  in 
breast  and  arm,  near  Atlanta,  Ga.  Private  Henry  F. 
Childs,  in  left  arm,  severely,  by  minnie  ball,  at  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  (arm  amputated.) 

COMPANY  "H." 

At  Vicksburg,  Miss.  Capt.  James  H.  Wetmore,  in 
thigh,  severely,  by  minnie  ball.  1st  Lieut.  Wm.  B.  Walk- 
er, in  back,  by  falling  of  limb  of  tree,  shot  off  by  shell. 
Sergt.  Schuyler  Marvin,  thumb  of  right  hand  shot  off.  Cor- 
porals Moses  Frazier,  in  shoulder,  severely,  by  minnie  ball ; 


236  HISTORY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Richard  Bailey.  Privates  John  Q.  Adams,  in  right  foot,  by 
minnie  ball ;  George  W.  Bellknapp,  in  right  arm,  in  elbow, 
severely ;  George  Clark,  in  right  arm,  by  shell ;  Hartwell  S. 
Mead,  in  left  breast,  severely,  by  buck  shot  and  shell ;  Van 
Buren  Truesdell,  in  right  thigh,  severely,  by  minnie  ball ; 
James  "Walsh,  in  arm,  severely,  by  minnie  ball. 

At  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864.  Privates  Gideon  C. 
Hammer,  in  arm,  severely  ;  Jackson  Hammer,  in  arm, 
slightly  ;  Arthur  A.  Sheldon,  right  arm  broken  by 
minnie  ball ;  James  Welch,  in  right  wrist,  by  minnie  ball. 
Private  Colen  Hughes,  wounded  in  right  shoulder,  near  Big 
Black,  May  17,  1863. 

COMPANY  "I." 

At  Vicksburg,  Miss.  2nd  Lieut.  Converse  Pearce,  in 
right  arm.  Sergt.  Asa  L.  Weaver,  left  fore  finger  shot  off. 
Privates  Horace  B.  Allen,  right  fore  finger  shot  off;  James 
Kee,  left  fore  finger  shot  off;  Joseph  C.  Johnston,  in  left 
breast;  Francis  Corkins,  right  fore  finger  shot  off;  Edward 
P.  Slater,  right  fore  finger  shot  off ;  Patrick  Crowley,  in  left 
side.  George  H.  Burgess,  June  26,  1863,  in  hand  and 
wrist.  Christopher  Kalahan,  June  20,  1863,  through  mouth 
and  neck ;  H.  P.  Schuyler. 

At  Guntown,  Miss.,  June,  10,  1864.  1st  Lieut.  Thomas 
H.  Jackson,  in  right  arm,  severely,  (died  of  wounds).  Cor- 
poral  Charles  W.  Carpenter,  in  right  arm.  Private  Samuel 
S.  Crabtree,  right  arm  broken  by  a  piece  of  shell. 

At  Spanish  Fort,  Ala.  Sergt.  Asa  L.  Weaver,  in  shoul- 
der, slightly.  Corporal  John  W.  Lockwood,  in  hand, 
slightly.  Privates  Patrick  Crowley,  in  right  arm,  slightly  ; 
David  Edward,  in  shoulder,  slightly ;  Franklin  E.  Cox,  in 
head,  slightly. 

COMPANY  UK." 

At  Vicksburg,  Miss.  Sergt.  John  Vanantwerp,  second 
finger  of  right  hand  shot  off.  Corporals  Henry  Morgan,  tip 
of  fore  finger  shot  off;  Joseph  P.  Smith,  shot  in  back  while 
planting  colors  on  a  hill  in  advance  of  regiment.  Privates 
Cordenio  Bruce,  in  right  shoulder,  slightly ;  George  0.  Ells- 
worth, in  left  side,  slightly,  by  a  piece  of  shell ;  Gideon  B. 
Lewis,  shot  through  right  leg  below  the  knee ;  Schuyler 


ILLINOIS   INFANTEY   VOLUNTEERS.  237 

Wakefield,  in  left  leg  by  musket  shot,  (leg  amputated) ;  Jas. 
Dymond,  fore  finger  of  left  hand  shot  off;  Charles  E.  Sher- 
man, fore  finger  of  right  hand  shot  off;  Martin  Butler,  fore 
finger  of  right  hand  shot  off;  Wm.  Hutchins,  in  right  hand 
slightly ;  George  Stockwell.  James  B.  Scougall,  May  24, 
1863,  left  toe  of  left  foot  shot  off  by  accident.  Wm.  Gibbs, 
severely  wounded  in  knee,  Aug.  12,  1864,  near  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Stephen  Rodawalt,  in  hand,  slightly,  at  Spanish  Fort,  Ala. 


LIST   OF  COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS   AND    EN- 
LISTED   MEN    KILLED  IN   ACTION. 

Colonel  Thomas  W.  Humphrey,  at  Guntown,  Miss.,  June 
10,  1864. 

COMPANY    "A." 

Privates  Frank  Shoris,  and  James  F.  Smith,  killed  at 
Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22.  1863  ;  Samuel  Snyder,  killed  at 
Fort  De  Russey  by  explosion  of  shell,  March  16,  1864; 
Wm.  F.  Wallace,  killed  at  siege  of  Spanish  Fort,  Ala., 
March  28,  1865;  Michael  P.  O'Neil,  killed  in  action  at 
Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864. 

COMPANY    "B." 

Sergt.  Stephen  A.  Rollins,  and  Private  Henry  Williams, 
killed  at  Guntown,  Uiss.,  June  10,  1864.  Private  Job 
Westbury,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863. 

COMPANY    "C." 

Capt.  Jason  B.  Mauzer,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May 
22,  1863.  Privates  Levi  Harp,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss., 
May  19,  1863;  Thomas  J.  Brown,  killed  by  the  enemy 
while  on  transport  on  the  Red  River  Expedition,  April  12, 
1864;  John  De  Groat,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22, 
1863;  Lewis  Deno,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  19,  1863; 
John  M.  Hunt,  missing,  'and  supposed  killed  at  Vicksburg, 
May  22,  1863;  Samuel  H.  Jackson,  killed  by  explosion  of 
caisson  at  Fort  De  Russey,  Ark.,  March  17,  1864;  Wm. 
Marshall,  killed  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  23,  1864  ;  Marion 
Pease,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863  ;  William 
22 


238  HISTOKY   OF  THE  NINETY-FIFTH 

Shutts,  missing  in  action,  and  supposed  killed  at  Vicksburg, 
Miss.,  May  22,  1863. 

COMPANY   "D." 

Corporals  Thomas  McLean,  and  Enos  H.  Barnes,  killed 
at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863.  Privates  Andrew 
Hoff,  and  Carl  Selm,  missing  in  action,  and  supposed  killed 
at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863 ;  Wm.  R.  Miller,  killed 
at  Vicksburg,  May  19,  1863 ;  Paul  Shawl,  and  Elijah 
P.  Weaver,  killed  at  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864. 

COMPANY    "E." 

Privates  Wm.  Bassett  and  James  Kennedy,  killed  at 
Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  19,  1863  ;  Elisha  W.  Higley  and  Geo. 
Reimon,  missing,  and  supposed  killed,  and  Henry  Maddick, 
killed,  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863. 

COMPANY   "P." 

Sergt.  James  Tibbitts,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May 
22,  1863.  Corporal  Oliver  E.  Pomeroy,  killed  at  Vicks- 
burg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863.  Privates  Wm.  A.  Churchill, 
killed  at  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864;  Patrick  Kelley, 
killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss,  May  22,  1863  ;  Daniel  W.  Ryan, 
killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  19,  1863. 

COMPANY    "G." 

Copt.  Elliott  N.  Bush,  killed  at  Guntown,  Miss.,  June 
10,  1864.  Privates  John  E.  Benedict,  killed  at  Vicksburg, 
Miss.,  May  19,  1863;  Wm.  E.  Gunn,  killed  at  Vicksburg, 
Miss.,  May  22,  1863. 

COMPANY    "H." 

Corporal  Richard  D.  Bailey,  killed  at  Guntown,  Miss., 
June  10,  1864.  Privates  Julius  Buttke,  and  Willard  Kim- 
ball,  killed  at  Guntown,  Miss.,  June  10,  1864;  Thomas  R. 
Mead,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  19,  1863. 

COMPANY  "I." 

Corporal  Samuel  E.  Thomas,  killed  at  Guntown,  Miss., 
June  16,  1864.  Privates  Conrad  Goltman,  and  David  F. 
Huntley,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863. 


ILLINOIS   INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS.  239 

COMPANY    "K." 

Capt.  Gabriel  Cornwell,  killed  at  Yicksburg,  Miss.,  May 
22,  1863.  Corporal  Joseph  P.  Smith,  killed  at  Vicksburg, 
Miss.,  May  22,  1863.  Privates  Wm.  F.  Baker,  and  Ga- 
briel J.  Cornwell,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  May  22,  1863  ; 
Anson  Perkins,  killed  at  Clouterville,  La.,  April  24,  1864. 


LIST  OF   CAMPAIGNS  AND   BATTLES    IN  WHICH  THE 
REGIMENT  TOOK  PART. 

General  Grant's  Campaign  in  Northern  Mississippi;  Tal- 
lahatchie  river. 

Campaign  against  Vicksburg;  Grand  Gulf,  Raymond, 
Champion  Hills;  charges  on  works  at  Vicksburg,  May  19 
and  22,  1863 ;  siege.  Operations  at  and  around  Natchez, 
Miss.,  during  Summer  and  Fall  of  1863. 

Red  River  expedition;  Fort  De  Russey,  Old  river,  Clout- 
erville, Mansouri,  Yellow  Bayou.  Guntown,  June  10,  1864. 

Campaign  against  Price,  in  Arkansas  and  Missouri,  in  the 
Fall  of  1864. 

Campaign  against  Hood  in  Tennessee ;  Nashville,  Decem- 
ber 15  and  16,  1864. 

Campaign  against  Mobile,  Ala.  Siege  of  Spanish  Fort. 
Charge  on  works,  April  8,  1865.  Fort  Blakely,  April  9, 
1865. 

Battles  in  which  the  Detachment  of  the  Regiment  partici- 
pated during  General  Sherman's  Georgia  Campaign  :  Ken- 
esaw  Mountain,  Chattahoochee  River,  Atlanta,  Ezra  Church, 
Jonesboro,  Lovejoy  Station. 

Distance  traveled  by  the  Regiment  while  in  the  service — 
9,960  miles. 


240 


HISTORY,    ETC. 


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